This summer I got to see my first total solar eclipse! It did not disappoint.
When we were in grade school, both Terry and I have memories of going out on the playground during an eclipse and being extremely underwhelmed. Seeing a little shadow on the sun was just not that exciting. But I heard there was something more as these words from an essay by Annie Dillard describe . . .
"I had seen a partial eclipse in 1970. A partial eclipse is very interesting. It bears almost no relation to a total eclipse. Seeing a partial eclipse bears the same relation to seeing a total eclipse as kissing a man does to marrying him, or as flying in an airplane does to falling out of an airplane. Although the one experience precedes the other, it in no way prepares you for it."
Fast forward to this summer, and the hype here in Tennessee was extreme. I even talked my sister and her husband into coming for a visit during the eclipse. This event was all people talked about for almost one week. I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard the word "totality" - I would be totally rich right now. I was so glad I had remembered to order eclipse glasses on Amazon before we left for Greece. But then the media started saying that some glasses sold were not up to standards and MIGHT MAKE US GO BLIND. The ones I bought were not on the list of approved manufacturers, but they seemed alright to me when I tested them out, so I just chose not to worry about it. I got pretty cracked up at the warnings about keeping pets from looking at the sun. Some coyotes may howl at the moon, but have you ever seen a dog or cat looking at the sun?
So we had our glasses, but I had not anticipated the run on moon pies. I had to settle for some Little Debbie ones, which weren't quite as authentic as the Moon pies invented right here in Tennessee.
So we had our glasses, and our moon pies, and a PLAN! Our original plan was to drive to Sweetwater along with maybe half a million other folks and watch 2 min. of totality with some friends there. But then Terry's friend and brother came up with a better idea to beat the crowd and go see 1 min. of totality by water. Seemed the right thing for the SEAMANS to do! So Scott and Ann hosted a big lunch at their lake house, and then we all headed out in boats to the line of totality several miles down Melton Hill Lake. There were four boats in our little navy, and we were the first to head out.
You couldn't really drive with eclipse glasses on, but it was a fun look!
As you can see, this part of the eclipse party was mainly an opportunity to take fun pictures in goofy looking glasses. It was exciting seeing the progress of the eclipse, but the main event was the 30 seconds before and after totality and the total eclipse itself. I followed the advice of many experts to just enjoy the moment by NOT taking photos - instead just focusing on the sounds (the crickets), the immediate cool temperature and being able to take off the goofy glasses and see the sunset in all directions and that spectacular image!
I was in awe. Seeing the total eclipse brought an immediate smile to my face that I could not wipe off!
It was truly a spiritual experience. I kept thinking of Psalm 19 -
The heavens are telling of the glory of God
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands!
Dady to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, there are no words
Where their voice is not heard.
Their line is gone out throughout the earth.
