Flashback two years, to May 2, 2020: SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2)/COVID-19 lockdowns compelled Californians to avoid anyone and to otherwise practice so-called safe social distancing. The seeming hardship would pale compared to racial riots that would erupt weeks later.
One of my neighbors literally put on a happy face—among several encouraging, or funny, street decorations to adorn this University Heights property and/or the sidewalk straddling Meade Avenue. Seems like every time I walked by something different greeted. Thank you.
Pandemic past, the future even more uncertain, time for some smiley seems all the more necessary. Take your pick of troubles, to name a few:
- The ever-escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict possibly leading to another world war
- China’s massive quarantine zones established to support its zero-COVID policy that may be starving millions of people
- Looming global food shortages resulting in famine because of supply chains disrupted by the war and China’s lockdowns
- Potentially more rioting ahead, in response to the forthcoming U.S. Supreme Courting ruling that could overturn Roe vs. Wade
- Rapidly rising inflation and teetering financial structures built on decades of debt resulting in another global economic catastrophe (worse than 2008)
Stop there. I spoil smiley’s mood. The Featured Image comes from Leica Q2 and is composed as shot. Vitals, aperture manually set: f/4, ISO 500, 1/1000 sec, 28mm; 3:33 p.m. PDT.