Merlin Loetzner, August 20th, 2024

Merlin Loetzner, August 20th, 2024

In this interview, Merlin Loetzner shares his story of graduating right as the first wave of Covid-19 hit the United States

Detroit Historical Society

8/20/24

Detroit Historical Society

Merlin Loetzner

Merlin Loetzner is a engineer and musician from Clarkston, Michigan who is currently based in the Metro Detroit area.

Kevin Hawthorne

16:32

Kevin Hawthorne: Hello, this is Kevin Hawthorne with the Detroit or, Historical Museum and the oral history on Covid-19. And today I am joined with may you please introduce yourself.

Merlin Loetzner: Yeah hi my name is Merlin Loetzner. What else should I say about myself here?

KH: Could you please spell your name for the record?

ML: Yes. M e r l i n. And then last name is l o e t z n e r.

KH: And, Merlin, what area of, Detroit or metro Detroit do you currently live in?

ML: I live in Rochester, which is pretty far north from Detroit, but I'm currently in the metro area, I guess.

KH: Have you lived in Rochester for how long?

ML: About three years now. I was, originally from Clarkston, Michigan and then I went to college at Oakland University, which is in Rochester, slash Auburn Hills. And then I lived either at Auburn Hills or Pontiac, and I'm now in Rochester for since, 2021. Yeah.

KH: So were you... when from what years did you attend Oakland University?

ML: That would have been 2016 to 20.... end of 2020. Yeah.

KH: So, where were you... or, you know, even if you don't remember exactly, do you remember the initial reaction you had when you first heard about Covid?

ML: Yeah, yeah. I mean, I was living in the dorms at Oakland University at that time. And I remember, you know, the news articles for weeks talking about this new virus and then, it, you know, slowly was, you know, ramping up and coming, reaching closer and closer. And then I remember being in the dorms when we got the kind of first like, hey, we're going to go online for a few weeks while this blows over. And so I was like, yeah, I do remember that.

KH: And like many people, there is a lot of people who thought like, this is just going to be like, the swine flu, or like the Ebola thing that happened a couple of years ago. It's going to be a couple weeks and we're fine, you know, do you think it it truly set in for you that this was different from those experiences?

ML: Well I think. I felt that it was. I understood that it was serious pretty early, and even before we were truly locked down, I felt like this was, you know, the rate of which it was spreading and the, you know, seemingly high fatality rate. So I felt like, you know, I think part of me was expecting it to still be a few weeks, but I think after, you know, a week or two, and we saw the way that the hospitals were being hit and stuff like that, that pretty quickly made me realize that this was just how things are going to be for a while.

KH: And during the four years that Covid has been happening, it's easy to say that we live in a post-Covid world, even though technically the pandemic is still going on. Within those four years, have you contracted Covid or anyone you know been affected by Covid in your personal sphere?

ML: I've tested positive once I am, I, I'm pretty sure you know, my personal under belief is that a lot of people got it without knowing with like, low symptoms or something like that, but I got it. I tested positive once so I consider myself lucky. You know, I know a lot of people have had it, and a lot of people I know have had different experience with it, with long term fatigue and other stuff like that. A friend of mine, his father even passed away from Covid, so it was kind of, I got away lucky, but I was definitely around people that weren't as lucky.

KH: And what was your personal experience with the disease?

ML: For me, I was very... it just felt like a cold. So I was very lucky in that regard that I didn't have any sort of crazy, symptoms or long term effects. So it was kind of a, like, a week long ordeal, and then I was better kind of thing.

KH: And, so while you were attending, Oakland University, how was finishing up your semester? Like, pretty much all online. And, what was your degree in?

ML: I studied a I have a right now. I have a bachelor's in electrical and computer engineering. i's a double major and we that transition, it was different basically, it was sudden and the each professor kind of was able to adapt in their own ways. You know, I had the more tech savvy and sort of younger professors were able to adapt pretty quickly because most classes were essentially slideshows and lectures to begin with so it was not as much of an ordeal. But other professors, you know, college professors, especially technical degrees, often are pretty old and, are less tech savvy when it comes to computers and especially doing it quickly. So there was definitely some classes where, the transition online was very difficult. And typically the first semester that transitioned online in the middle, some classes just ended up being, I'd say, relatively easier because they were less... there were less things to do and turn in just because professors weren't able to fully execute on that as quickly.

KH: And then even, like, was your graduation... graduation ceremony also completely online?

ML: Yeah. So I graduated at right at the end of 2020, and I was still that winter was still a, period of, you know, a high Covid wave. So it was essentially a live stream with a, you know, everyone's pictures. I didn't even watch it personally.

KH: You didn't even watch your own graduation.

ML: No, I'm not really. I'm not really...ceremonies and stuff like that don't mean a lot to me. And so, especially in that regard, I didn't really feel like I was going to get anything out of it. So that was not something.

KH: I attended, Oakland pre Covid and completely just didn't even go to my own ceremony. Yeah. Yeah I so I, I feel you there.

ML: Yeah.

KH: I know some people they said like, they were, like driving up in cars to watch it just to have a semblance of normality, which just shows how different it it was back then, especially in 2020. It was pre vaccine even.

ML: Right yeah. So that was still we were still just at home and that was it for the most part.

KH: How were you able to get the vaccine early enough or where was your timeline with the vaccine?

ML: I don't know the exact dates. I would have to look it up, but I got it in that first wave that the, like, people could get it. I got my first dose at the, at Ford Field you know, where the Lions play. That was pretty cool but I got it as soon as I could, essentially.

KH: Yeah. I also got mine at Lions at Ford Field. I think many people did. Yeah. Did did you have any hesitations for the vaccine?

ML: No. Absolutely not, absolutely not. I was ready to take it I've gotten every booster since too. You know, it's it's, you know, I, you know, not going into, you know, what, people are creating controversies around it, but vaccines have taken, for a long time, so. And I was ready to take this one.

KH: And so another reason.. besides, I wanted your perspective as someone who attended college, during Covid because it's valuable. But also, I know you, you have some musical endeavors. And how is that adapting to musical endeavors during a Covid world? Like you joined a band, correct?

ML: Yeah. So I was in the weeks leading up, right before Covid, I was in talks with, Lansing based band Grey Matter, which, I was a fan of for a lot of many years for them. And, essentially, I was even at the point where I was learning songs and on calls with them. And then when Covid hit, they had even just they released an album album called Climbing Out the day the state of Michigan shut down, which is truly just, unlucky timing, truly unlucky timing for them. And so after that, it was kind of just like nearly two years of just.. I didn't really chat with them too much because there wasn't really stuff going on in there. And they also took the I took Covid very seriously so they weren't like itching to try to get everyone in a room as quickly as possible. They're waiting until it was safe. So it was essentially right as I was gearing up to start practicing with this band I was really stoked about, I was essentially put on pause for until it was safe.

KH: And, how how was that feeling just, going into lockdown where you have this opportunity and suddenly you just couldn't you just have to kind of sit tight for a little bit. How was that?

ML: I mean, honestly, I kind of just, assumed that the, the that I would just wasn't going to happen, like, I just didn't really foresee it kicking off again, at least, and including me. So I was kind of in my mind, I was just already moving on from it and was just, you know, if that happens, it happens again. So it was kind of only good news once it came around that they were still interested in and wanted me to practice with them.

KH: Yeah. Awesome. And during lockdown, were there any other surprise interests you, discovered?

ML: I wouldn't say surprise interests. I kind of just dug deeper in a lot of the hobbies interests I already had, so, like, I don't know, like, in general, I'm a big fan of music and discovering releases and digging into old, you know, old albums and finding them. So I was able to, you know, devote a little more time to that because it was very conducive to being in lockdown. I was always like, had a passing interest in, like, coffee and like, the different ways to brew it. And then I got really deep into that science of like, brewing pour over on my own. So I was kind of, not surprisingly, new things, but more so just really diving deeper into the things I already liked.

KH: Excellent. What was your, like, your, in college at the time, but did you get any, jobs at the time that you were, like, either furloughed at or just laid off?

ML: Yeah. So I was in the year... two years before Covid started I was working at a automotive supplier called Baraza there in Auburn Hills, and I was an intern there when I was in college. And I was working there even while taking for 16 credits at OU, I was working there nearly 20 hours a week at least. And I was, they were kind of short staffed with engineers so I was really occupying and doing the work of other full time engineers and, so obviously when Covid hit, I was didn't have that. I couldn't work there for a few months but, you know, the, essential workers included the automotive industry in Michigan because of how important it is to the economy here, you know. And so I was able to actually pretty quickly, I think I had it was three months I wasn't able to work and then I was able to work in a limited kind of masked up, way, for again, following break.

KH: Yeah. What was the biggest change from like, pre Covid slash post Covid going to work? Like what was the biggest change in like the way you had to operate? Besides you know the obvious of masks and all.

ML: Right. Well I it was that a lot of engineering work is pretty hands off. Like a lot of it is more so kind of management and project management in a way. So a lot of the office was essentially empty and I was one of the people who was working hands on with stuff. So it was going from a full office to it being like me and like maybe six other people at most, most of the time. So, we were masked up when we were working with each other and walking around, and then when we had distance or working on our own, we didn't. And that was kind of the policy there. So it was strange, I, I, I'm not that... you know, I'm not an extroverted person, so I honestly didn't really mind it that much. It was nice that it to be like a quieter workplace. But it was, it was definitely different and, things operated very differently.

KH: So being that you had to go to, work sooner and just, I don't know your general thoughts on how did you think, Covid was handled on a national level and on a state level?

ML: Well, I think... so I think at a state level we performed better than most states, but I think that is not a very high bar, given the national kind of, you know... given our the death toll in America is absurdly high compared, you know, per capita compared to other developed countries and even lesser developed countries. So I think we were making a lot of sacrifices. We're sacrificing a lot of, at risk people for the sake of the, you know, the economy, which is, which is sort of an abstract thing in comparison to, you know, over a million people dead in this country alone, you know? So I think in terms of national, I think we didn't do enough. And we continue to not really emphasize the need and the current spike and the current lack of boosters and vaccinations. And, you know, Michigan, I think we took lockdown more seriously, and we were kind of, the, leading state in the more progressive wings, in terms of unit U.S. politics, in terms of, locking down and handling it. But I, you know, I think we could have easily done more.

KH: And with this, you know, obviously we talk about this is, been referred to sometimes like a once in a century type thing, but are you concerned about something like Covid happening again in your lifetime?

ML: You know, I think... I think... I don't see why it wouldn't be possible and I don't see, you know, I think it's not really something...I think it is possible. And I don't think there's anything I can personally do to plan ahead for it. I think we have a lot of information from this outbreak now of having a, you know, pandemic in the more modern sense than, you know, the Spanish flu or whatever. But, you know, I think it's definitely a possibility. I don't see why it would be lesser now. You know, it could happen sooner than a century and it could not. So we'll have to to see I mean, I hope it does, and obviously. But, there's nothing in my opinion, there's nothing I can really do about it at the moment. Right.

KH: And is there anything that we haven't discussed that you would like to speak on?

ML: That's a good question. There's nothing popping up immediately now.

KH: All right, then. Thank you so much for your time today, Marilyn.

ML: All right. Yeah. No problem.