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Furnal Equinox Decision
5 years ago
It pains me to do this but I am going to have to cancel my trip to Furnal Equinox this year.
I have been to every single Furnal Equinox. It's a con I've helped since its first year, one I have greatly enjoyed watch grow. I believe they are doing everything they can to protect us from contamination from the Coronavirus. I know the chances of contracting the virus are very low. But there are some other things I have been considering while weighing my decision.
First off is the question of governments. To attend Furnal Equinox I need to cross an international boundary. While there are currently no restrictions between the US and Canada except for those who have been to China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Japan, and now most of Europe, and I certainly haven't been to any of those places, I cannot be certain where we are going to be in another week and a half. More and more venues are closing for the rest of March in order to slow the spread of the virus; my brother and his family just had the Disney vacation they've been dreaming about for the last two years put on hold. My Diocese just removed the obligation to attend Sunday Mass (though the parishes are still open). No Fish Fry's have been canceled yet, but it's only a matter of time.
Even if the risk is not that great, the risk of being detained at the border and put into quarantine is more real than I can risk; I will not take that risk.
But more important to me is the health of my wife and daughter. Everything I have read indicates that this Coronavirus does not seem to strike kids, which is a big relief. However, my wife is often susceptible to respiratory illnesses this time of year because of her seasonal allergies. Last year both my wife and I caught the Flu at the beginning of March. I recovered in a few days and only had a lingering cough (which finally abated during Furnal Equinox). My wife's cold lasted a lot longer, and she kept recovering from one thing only to end up catching another... for two months. I cannot take any risks of this sort, especially since this Coronavirus is far more deadly to people with respiratory issues.
For these reasons I must cancel. I did not reach this decision lightly. As of Wednesday the 11th I was still planning on attending. I had been keeping an eye on developments since I learned about the virus in January. But the cascade of closings, travel restrictions, and hysterical commentary from the media and the fact that confirmed cases are increasing in both US and Canada at an exponential rate is simply too much. I do wonder if Ontario/Toronto won't ban gatherings of sufficient size in the next few days which will have made this all moot to begin with.
I apologize to my friend
Salvestro who I was going to drive up with and with whom I was going to fursuit together for the first time. Hopefully we can get together and do something fun that weekend anyway. I apologize to 
Fulminar who I was going to pick up along the way and room with. Fulminar and I have roomed together for every Furnal Equinox save the first. I could not imagine doing the con without him. I will miss him dearly this year and only hope Furnal survives to thrive next year.
I am sorry for all the rest of my friends who I can only see at Furnal. Some of you have already decided not to attend, and others are still uncertain. I apologize to all of the Rodents who were looking forward to my Rodents! panel. I already miss you guys and it pains me to have to wait another year to see most of you. Hopefully the Coronavirus will be on the wane or gone by the time Anthrocon rolls around in July. I expect the next two months to be very trying. I hope I am wrong.
Furnal Equinox is giving folks the option of rolling over their registration to next year or of donating it to the convention to help them support operations so that we will have another Furnal Equinox next year. I am planning on donating my registration because this con means too much to me to let something as pesky as a global pandemic do it in. You can learn more about Furnal's current situation here: https://www.furnalequinox.com/2020/.....id-19-updates/
Thank you all for being such great friends. We will get through this. Take care of yourself and do not despair. Do not panic. And definitely remember to wash your hands!
Dominus vobiscum
I have been to every single Furnal Equinox. It's a con I've helped since its first year, one I have greatly enjoyed watch grow. I believe they are doing everything they can to protect us from contamination from the Coronavirus. I know the chances of contracting the virus are very low. But there are some other things I have been considering while weighing my decision.
First off is the question of governments. To attend Furnal Equinox I need to cross an international boundary. While there are currently no restrictions between the US and Canada except for those who have been to China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Japan, and now most of Europe, and I certainly haven't been to any of those places, I cannot be certain where we are going to be in another week and a half. More and more venues are closing for the rest of March in order to slow the spread of the virus; my brother and his family just had the Disney vacation they've been dreaming about for the last two years put on hold. My Diocese just removed the obligation to attend Sunday Mass (though the parishes are still open). No Fish Fry's have been canceled yet, but it's only a matter of time.
Even if the risk is not that great, the risk of being detained at the border and put into quarantine is more real than I can risk; I will not take that risk.
But more important to me is the health of my wife and daughter. Everything I have read indicates that this Coronavirus does not seem to strike kids, which is a big relief. However, my wife is often susceptible to respiratory illnesses this time of year because of her seasonal allergies. Last year both my wife and I caught the Flu at the beginning of March. I recovered in a few days and only had a lingering cough (which finally abated during Furnal Equinox). My wife's cold lasted a lot longer, and she kept recovering from one thing only to end up catching another... for two months. I cannot take any risks of this sort, especially since this Coronavirus is far more deadly to people with respiratory issues.
For these reasons I must cancel. I did not reach this decision lightly. As of Wednesday the 11th I was still planning on attending. I had been keeping an eye on developments since I learned about the virus in January. But the cascade of closings, travel restrictions, and hysterical commentary from the media and the fact that confirmed cases are increasing in both US and Canada at an exponential rate is simply too much. I do wonder if Ontario/Toronto won't ban gatherings of sufficient size in the next few days which will have made this all moot to begin with.
I apologize to my friend
Salvestro who I was going to drive up with and with whom I was going to fursuit together for the first time. Hopefully we can get together and do something fun that weekend anyway. I apologize to 
Fulminar who I was going to pick up along the way and room with. Fulminar and I have roomed together for every Furnal Equinox save the first. I could not imagine doing the con without him. I will miss him dearly this year and only hope Furnal survives to thrive next year.I am sorry for all the rest of my friends who I can only see at Furnal. Some of you have already decided not to attend, and others are still uncertain. I apologize to all of the Rodents who were looking forward to my Rodents! panel. I already miss you guys and it pains me to have to wait another year to see most of you. Hopefully the Coronavirus will be on the wane or gone by the time Anthrocon rolls around in July. I expect the next two months to be very trying. I hope I am wrong.
Furnal Equinox is giving folks the option of rolling over their registration to next year or of donating it to the convention to help them support operations so that we will have another Furnal Equinox next year. I am planning on donating my registration because this con means too much to me to let something as pesky as a global pandemic do it in. You can learn more about Furnal's current situation here: https://www.furnalequinox.com/2020/.....id-19-updates/
Thank you all for being such great friends. We will get through this. Take care of yourself and do not despair. Do not panic. And definitely remember to wash your hands!
Dominus vobiscum
Be well!
Dominus tecum
Dominus tecum
Hope you stay safe over there from the impending threat of the Coronavirus! Love and prayers to you and your family!
Dominus tecum
I'll do my best to stay healthy and keep on praying, too. Not just for my own life and problems but for you and your family as well. You, along with all my awesome furry friends, are important to me. ^w^
Besides, ironically enough, FE got cancelled anyway. lol
Just follow the health recommendations and do what you can to self-isolate. Prayer is going to be a constant weapon too.
Dominus tecum
Dominus tecum
Also, just so you know: the con was just officially cancelled for this year.
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Dominus tecum
The con being cancelled only ratifies the decision I was already at peace with. While anxiety over this virus is still something I am dealing with, it's way lower than it was just two days ago when I was wrestling with this decision.
Dominus tecum
But indeed. It was rather concerning going to the store today and seeing them out of so much.
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Dominus tecum