Who could have predicted on Jan. 1, 2020, that a coronavirus invisible to the human eye would change life for nearly every person on the planet and kill more than a million people? Viruses do not catch God by surprise, but SARS-CoV-2 surprised the world, spreading quietly and rapidly. Its incubation period (up to 14 days) and tendency to infect some people asymptomatically while causing severe COVID-19 or death in others made the virus especially difficult to contain.

Canine campaign

“You better not botch this recount. Your life depends on it.”

A text Georgia Secretary of State BRAD RAFFENSPERGER, a Republican, said he received during the state’s hand recount of votes in the presidential election. He reported the threat—one of several—to state authorities. “Other than getting you angry, it’s also very disillusioning,” he said. 

Died

Longtime Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek died Nov. 8 at age 80.

Trebek was quietly tenacious, a trait he traced back to his Canadian upbringing and years of playing ice hockey. During his 30-plus-year tenure on Jeopardy!, he canceled only one taping—when he lost his voice completely.

No ordinary time 

Oct. 24—Robert Vreugde/El Lago, Texas

I think Amy Coney Barrett displayed such coolheaded composure while being grilled by liberal Democratic senators because, as a mother of seven, she has a lot of experience successfully managing children.

Prosecutor and persecutor

Oct. 10—Nancy Manring/Westlake, Ohio

The New York Times could take a tip from your cover story on Kamala Harris. Through facts instead of subjectivity, the article pointed out her evil intent through the destruction of unborn babies and her preference for animals.

Kipper Tabb/Duluth, Ga.

Swans for sale