KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Coronavirus concerns may currently dominate our days. But happiness is also contagious in East Tennessee where people cope with creativity, caring, and humor.
No hair salon? No problem for husband and wife John and Lou Maynard. The 88-year-old couple went viral with a video showing the couple pretend like John cut Lou's hair with large garden shears.
In the video that was picked up by E! News and viewed more than 200,000 times in 24 hours, John asks, "Does it look good everywhere or do I need to change something?"
"Alrighty. Yeah, maybe a little bit more right off here," said Lou.
The couple are the parents of Charles Maynard of Maryville. Charles is well known in East Tennessee as an author, Methodist minister, and the first president of the non-profit Friends of the Smokies.
John and Lou's granddaughter, Carolyn Maynard Lamar, is a former WBIR producer who posted on Facebook, "You guys, my grandparents are on E! News. Can this year get any weirder?"
John and Lou are not the only ones who refuse to get deflated by the difficult circumstances brought by the coronavirus. All along Ebeneezer Road in Knoxville, signs and columns made from balloons offer uplifting messages for passers-by to smile and trust.
The messages of hope are also found beneath the feet with sidewalk chalk art across the region.
There may not be any students at the schools in Kingston, but the teachers at Cherokee Middle are all class. They formed a parade and drove by the homes of students just to say hello and share smiles from a safe distance.
For cooped-up children on the hunt for happiness, don't forget about the neighborhood that held a bear hunt. That is, a scavenger hunt to spot stuffed teddy bears hidden in windows, bushes, and lawns.
The Central Collective in Knoxville made a large sign to let people know we are "In This Together, (at least) 6 Feet Apart."
What would a global pandemic be without a commemorative t-shirt? Artists in Knoxville made and printed "wash your hands" shirts to help support local artists while shops and galleries are closed.
The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon was canceled. But Knoxville's mayor, Indya Kincannon, ran her own relay from a safe social distance.
The Barkley Marathons were canceled. But John Kelly still ran 100 miles through Frozen Head State Park as solo "No-Barkley Barkley" tribute to his fellow ultrarunners.
The live shows are canceled at The Bijou and Tennessee Theatre. But the windows are open at the home of a pianist who played a free concert to neighbors who listened outside while staying a safe distance from each other.
"Hopefully we can take some time and think about something else than what's on the news and let the music bring us healing and hope," said pianist Lynda Mullinax.
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