The menacing palm that you met in April 2021 dresses in holiday-appropriate attire, like Uncle Sam garb for Fourth of July. Now he’s ready for Valentine’s Day in 13 days and has been at least since I captured the Featured Image on Jan. 4, 2022. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/4, ISO 100, 1/640 sec, 28mm; 2:04 p.m. PST.
Composed as shot, the moment comes from Leica Q2. If you live in, or visit, San Diego’s University Heights neighborhood, you can see this terrifying tree on North Avenue between Meade and Monroe.
But be warned: Rumor has it that people accepting his embrace suddenly vanish. Who knew the strange way that SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2)/COVID-19 mandates would save lives. Consider how social distancing has kept would be huggers from this creature’s arms. As pandemic-fatigue sets in and old habits return, however, anyone could become victim and be his Valentine. Forever.