The kids thought the hotel was AWESOME!
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I didn't bother with pictures during, they don't turn out anyway. But WOW! I wrote the experience below. We all thought it was worth the super slow long drive home. (Except maybe Oliver...)
Stopping for dinner
Every now and again, you have an experience that leaves you wishing there were words great enough to describe what just happened. Yesterday was one of those days. I admit, I wasn’t overly excited to go see the eclipse. I mean, I knew it would be neat, but I had no idea how incredible it would be. And there is just so much packing and food planning and kid entertaining to do. And such a long drive. I didn’t figure it would be worth it, but was planning to make the best of it. If nothing else, it would be a family adventure.
The traffic on the way wasn’t bad. Sleeping in the hotel was long and not great, as expected. But the morning was exciting and off we went. We had to wake up at 5 to get on the road in time to get to the center of the path of totality. Looking back on it now, I am just so glad we did. I really didn’t see why it would matter that much if we were in the center of totality, but it made all the difference. We found a random large parking lot across the street from a McDonalds where we decided to set up camp. It was next to a building with benches and a little grassy area. We finished breakfast at McDonalds-Cooper’s dream come true-just in time and walked back to our van to get out the glasses.
Watching the eclipse was really fascinating. The glasses made it look so neat. Bright orange glowing ball with a bite taken right out. The darkness on the orange ball ever growing. But it wasn’t until it was 50% or so that the changes around us began to be noticeable. It was getting colder and the wind started to pick up. Then the lighting went strange. Like I was wearing sunglasses when I wasn’t. It was so eery to look up and see total blue sky and yet it wasn’t bright. The world felt strange. It wasn’t the same as when it’s cloudy. It was an entirely different feeling.
I was wholly unprepared for totality. I am not sure what I expected, but it was so beyond what I ever could have imagined. I honestly thought it would just be on the same level as the rest of the eclipse. I thought it would go dark and then light and we’d all think it was neat and be done. But totality had a life all of its own. It was a separate distinct experience. It was a moment so much bigger than me. So much bigger than normal life. Ripping off my glasses once the last sliver of orange disappeared was like looking at heaven. There, in the sky surrounded by a black ball was mystical glowing light shooting out in all directions. It wasn’t earthy. It was so surreal. And there we were, surrounded in cold darkness. And cheers and shrieks of excitement. I was blown away. Breathless. Astonished. Todd was showing Oliver and the other kids were jumping around shouting random exclamations of amazement. Then, almost frantic, Todd who was on the other side of the van having just set Oliver down exclaimed, “Doesn’t it seem like we need to kiss or something?!” And he ran around the van and swooped me up in his arms and kissed me. And we were laughing and staring in awe. And then, just like that…it was over. The sunlight broke through the darkness and I couldn’t look at the sun anymore. It was the most incredible two minutes. I almost wish I had been more prepared. What could I have done to have taken it in more? How was it ending already? Wait moon, go back for just a little longer…and then it was getting light again and I blinked trying to realize that what had just happened really was real.
I asked Todd later just why was it so amazing. Because it really was just so completely amazing. Why was it? He said, “Because it was just so big. It came so fast. And mostly because it was something that no man can create or recreate or even try to duplicate and come even remotely close.” Basically, because it was heavenly.
It was in that moment when I felt so small, that I also felt so much love.
ps-two days later and I can’t stop thinking about it. I think something about that totality made me realize in a way I never have before how I am actually part of a universe. The vastness and wonder is mind-blowing. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life.
I snagged these pictures off Facebook. I have no idea who to give credit to, but I really liked them. Amazing photographers!
