LAUSR

Signing up to be the coeditor of this special issue was an experience in jumping off the deep end for me. While I occasionally served as a reviewer, I had no idea how challenged I would be as a guest editor. Which made me reflect, what motivated me to take on this gig? Well, all it took was an invitation. But the fact that the invitation came from Dr. Sarah Kamens made an important difference because I learned over and over again that it takes a village to raise a child. Similarly, it takes as team to accomplish important things and having the opportunity to join Dr. Kamens’ team made me feel like the risk was worth it. So I agreed. I also agreed because I wanted to do something, to try to make a difference amid our struggles against COVID-19. I wanted to do something to fight against the helplessness that comes so easily when faced with such a prolific challenge that COVID-19 brought to us. This is a special period in my generation, and I wanted to attempt to leave some sort of written reminders behind and help others do the same. This is my personal meaning and the meaning I have ascribed to this special issue. COVID-19 is the latest pandemic to befall us in my generation. Prior to COVID-19, there was the “Spanish Flu,” which struck in the 1918. It was eye-opening for me to learn from the article “Life in a Time of Plague and Beyond” that the Spanish Flu did not originate in Spain! It was called the