Apr 10: Totality
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but some experiences are worth far more
I drove out to Arkansas for the total solar eclipse and got home last night. I’m totally trashed (2,000+ miles in four days) and all of a sudden am very aware that I haven’t even started my taxes. So this’ll be a short one.
The weather forecasts, before I left, were looking pretty iffy and even included tornadoes at one point. I waffled about whether to go at all and tried to figure out what was most important to me — the experience or the photos. I thought it was probably the photos I cared about most.
Moments before totality, it was as if someone flipped a giant switch and the world — which, to be fair, had become rather dim — went dark. I saw another total eclipse back in 2017 and was blown away by it, but this one was even more dramatic. I can’t explain why, and photos don’t even begin to capture it, but it was one of the most amazing, awe-inspiring experiences I’ve ever had. Tears welled up in my eyes (but of course I kept taking pictures anyway).
Now, now that I’m back home, I can’t imagine why I ever wondered about which would be more important, the photos or the experience. It was the experience of course, and it’s always the experience that’s most valuable to me. The photos simply allow me to share a small part of it.
More later, after I finish my annual struggle taxes.
Amazing pix and experience! So glad you braved it and the weather was clear.
Sounds so inspiring, and yes the experiences are the highlights for me too. We were in Carlsbad Caverns at the peak of the eclipse & the energy was so still & I’d like to think it was eclipse related.😌