Looking back at 2020: The year in pictures

The pandemic transformed our lives in 2020. In March, we were told to stay home. Schools closed, restaurants went dark, workplaces emptied out. Zoom meetings became the way to do business and commune with family and friends.

As summer arrived and some public health restrictions were loosened, the country was rocked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. The Black Lives Matter movement joined people across the country in calls for police reform and social justice. Weekly rallies were held throughout the summer at Buckley Park in Durango, with most attendees wearing masks because of the pandemic.

School resumed in the fall, with students mixing remote learning and in-school learning in cohorts. Sports were canceled or delayed.

The Durango High School football team played an abbreviated season, but perhaps its most memorable. The Demons are Class 3A state champions. The players and coaches not only beat their competition on the field, finishing undefeated, they persevered through the health restrictions and uncertainty of the pandemic. Their triumph brought genuine celebration and joy to Durango.

In early November, the pandemic seemed to catch fire in La Plata County. COVID-19 cases increased dramatically week after week, leading to new and challenging health restrictions. Students were told to stay home and restaurants went dark once again. And our holidays will be without many traditional family and community gatherings.

Even in its last days, 2020 has left us with indelible images.