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Patti's avatar

It was a non event for me. Too much hype so I ignored it altogether. Stayed inside. I find ignoring news media helps remain grounded and maintains a sense of normalcy.

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John Kenney's avatar

I went to work as normal in my office at 35,000 ft.

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Elizabeth's avatar

Hi Patti - couldn't snag a comment box so I'll post here.

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I love your title Celia and the Robert Frost poem, and your post.

I wasn't reading the hype, although I woke in the morning with my heart fluttering. Which it's done in the past on the morning before a full moon (3 or 4 times), when I was under intense stress. (this last week has been very stressful for reasons separate from the larger insanity, if that's at all possible)

When the eclipse started I was tired and cuddled down, watching the eerie changing light. My heart fluttering around again. As soon as the sky brightened my heart quieted and I slept. So curious.

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Lisa Hagen's avatar

I ignored all the hype and focused on the event of a lifetime for the area I live in...next time won't be until 2144, so they say. Myself and co-workers were like children running in and out of the office building, snatching a look at the Universe in action in all its glorious Beauty and, Chaos! I'm finding, as I focus my energy on my own life and family, friends, the Chaos and change will continue. I will transform what I can within myself, I will smile at strangers more, I will hug my friends more and tell them how much I love them....this I can do with all my Heart and Soul.

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Ruth H's avatar

Now that’s how you handle life ❤️👏👏👏 I wasn’t expecting much about the eclipse, ignited all the hype, but when it got dark I was out enjoying it and appreciating the spectacular event.

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Donna Ruth's avatar

Our Ontario family drove south about 35 minutes to totality zone. It had been densely cloudy all morning and cloudy all the way down. The forecast was dicey and we were despairing we would miss it. Since it was the Solemnity of the Annunciation to Mary (transferred from March 25 because of Easter) we had gone to Mass in the morning, and each in his own way asked for Mary’s blue mantle to cover us. About five minutes before we arrived, the clouds dissipated and we had brilliant blue skies. We were so grateful. We found a farm side road and set up camp there. Within 15 minutes about 30 other cars joined us.

It was an amazing experience for all of us. Of course we dutifully had our special glasses, but at totality we lowered them briefly (I had read it was safe). A cheer rose from the watchers. Most amazing was watching the light change, the darkening, and seeing Jupiter and Venus as if it were 9:00 pm on a clear June evening. And then there was the diamond burst as the light shot out at the end of the totality. We were in awe. It was nature at its finest. Still feeling the glow. A day to remember.

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rockpicker's avatar

Great description!

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John Sutton's avatar

My wife and I had the same experience on a farm in northern Vermont. It was amazing and exceeded my expectations.

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Samwise's avatar

It was, for me, surprisingly intense. Watched the totality without glasses. Gazing upon the covered sun with naked eyes. I’m still in awe a day later. Haven’t found words to describe it fully.

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blablavatskaya's avatar

it's sweet when we can look to a higher power. and there is no higher power than the sun and moon.

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alison's avatar

Celia, so happy that you found a grounding place in the Robert Frost poem. Let go of where your mind drifted into prior. Each morning as you become conscious repeat this: This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 Love you.

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Steve Taylor's avatar

It’s all smoke and mirrors whilst the fat lady sings and the piper prints the money. Cryptic stuff so my apologies.

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Liz G's avatar

I saw "X" chemtrails across the sky across New England all morning. Are "they" sending a message?

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Alexandros Krampis's avatar

I saw the same driving to the Catskills from New York City on this beautiful day.

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rockpicker's avatar

I was feeding sheep in southwestern Montana, far from the path of totality. Here not enough sun was blocked to notice, though the pre-eclipse sun did seem brighter than usual.

Ouzle

More a blur or mere

winged premise

of a bird in flight,

he lit from nowhere

on a mid-stream stone,

studied me a bit,

squat-jigged on a fringe

of ice, blinked twice

and went on diving riffles,

unruffled, alone.

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Marilyn Langlois's avatar

Celia, like you, what I enjoyed most about our partial eclipse, from where I experienced it outside of Lawrence Hall of Science in the Berkeley Hills, was seeing all kinds of people gathered there, children playing, chatting with friendly strangers, sharing our special filter glasses. Then afterwards two friends and I went on a hike far out in the remote hills, brilliant green in the spring sunshine. ;-)

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BigBlueSky's avatar

The eclipse felt like when you're in a classroom where there's too much noise and someone switches the lights on and off to signal to everyone that it's time to be still and listen to the teacher. It's like God is telling us it's time to focus and shut out the noise.

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Ekoh's avatar

I did get to see glimpses of the eclipse through occasionally slight gaps in the heavy cloud cover. A friend stopped by and set up a couple of lawn chairs and a neighbor lent me some eclipse glasses but most of the time it was impossible to see due the clouds. We had a good time.

The elementary school across the street was full of cheers and happy sounds from the children. Who can oppose that?

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rockpicker's avatar

Mr MBB333- this guy does a good job showing weird sky phenomena captured by viewers on cell phones, as well as official releases. Some odd eclipse footage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhtb3R3CVI0

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John Day MD's avatar

It was a pleasant eclipse through the occasionally-breaking clouds, which added excitement at the elementary school where my wife is the librarian.

https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc80ecf6a-1324-427e-9602-d5d1fd6e7320_4032x2268.jpeg

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FollowsTheWay's avatar

Coupled with the 2017 eclipse, I believe the 2024 is a sign of "X'ing out" America.

https://followstheway.wordpress.com/2024/04/01/solar-eclipses-great-signs-in-the-heaven/

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Lynn Huston's avatar

Celia, while we don't know each other personally, and will probably never meet in this life, I want to thank you... for this, and other delights that have graced my inbox since receiving your Substack articles. I admire and am very grateful for your sensibility. And so glad to reach out to you today with a heartfelt THANK you for this particular gem, today. I so enjoy the way you write, and your thoughts expressed today - well, they resonate deeply. I too was moved by the words of Robert Frost which you posted. Much thanks for all you do and have done. ~ Lynn in Phoenix, AZ

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A.M.'s avatar

The first and last 'event' I fell for was Y2K. Somewhere around the time that I was in high school, Prince came out with his 'Tonight I'm going to party like it's 1999' tune. I remember everyone was excited about the song and it helped them to project this mood of celebration about the coming millennium and then, oh no, Chicken Little says the sky is falling that night. I was living in Queens at the time, and while I doubted anything much would happen, did I want to risk being in Manhattan and having to get home after midnight on NYE with lots of drunkenness around? So, no, I stayed home and had a most unmemorable NYE. It was my fault for letting it happen. Not that I am a big celebrant of NYE--on the contrary. But I would have liked to leave my house and have a nice dinner and a walk outside...oh, and thank you for the Frost. He was my mother's favorite poet and I always appreciate his poems.

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Ernest Judd's avatar

It was an attempt at another "Mass Formation" event.

I believe anything from now on that is a warning 'cringe-worthy' of reporting will be exploded to try and capture as many people as possible into another, "It's popular... I'm in!" exercise.

I have seen maybe 7-8 in my lifetime, even the famous one that Carly Simon had the prescience to write lyrics about a former lover... "And you flew your Learjet up to Nova Scotia to see the total eclipse of the sun"... "you're so vain"!

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