Earl and I haven’t taken a winter vacation since the pandemic; before that we managed to get away for two or three weeks every year while Benton Harbor suffered under snow and ice and gloom.
By car, plane, or cruise ship, we always migrated toward palm trees. Some people say, “If you’ve seen one palm tree, you’ve seen them all”; we don’t agree. Sure there’s a certain similarity about them; but there’s a certain similarity about maple trees or BMWs or penguins, and nobody makes that remark in those contexts.
Palm trees are a sign that we’ve gone close enough to the equator that daily sun and warm temperatures are relatively guaranteed. Sand is often part of the deal, but not necessary.
There’s a certain change in attitude too. I’m not sure if it’s the palm tree effect or the weather effect, but people seem more relaxed, less rushed. Granted, we’re on vacation so that should be our modus operandi, but the clerk in the supermarket, the lady at the pool, and our host all exude the same vibe. It says, “Take your time; if you don’t get to it today you can be sure it will be as nice tomorrow.”
We’ve enjoyed palm trees as far away as Tahiti and Bora Bora, Key West, Puerto Rico, and most of the islands in the Caribbean. Currently we’re watching a grove of them outside our Naples condo’s windows.
I doubt Joyce Kilmer was writing about palm trees when he penned his famous poem.”I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree.”
For a moment, I toyed with writing one to what’s called in Latin palmae arecaceae; but when I checked Google® I found there is already a website with a link devoted to the best palm tree poems. So I’m just going to enjoy the ones we’re visiting instead.
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