Welcome to “What’s Your Story?”, the occasional Tuesday space where I invite YOU to participate in the writing. Every episode, I offer a new writing prompt. In 200 words or less, YOU get to tell YOUR story.
Did you see the eclipse yesterday? I did. Wow!
Where were you? Who were you with? Did the clouds clear away at just the right moment? Was the experience different than you expected? Did you see the diamond Ring? Tell us all about it.
Tip of the Week: I love my practice of free writing. Every day, I write a few thousand words of whatever comes to my mind. I have no plans of sharing it with anyone and no plans of ever reading it myself. This writing is like a friend to me with whom I hold nothing back. Give it a try. Go get a pen and start writing down your thoughts and see what bubbles to the surface.
Keep it 200 words or less. (Word Counter) Be honest. Have fun. Don’t hold back. Leave your contribution in the comments. I’ll go first.
I didn't have a date for watching the eclipse, so I texted my mom. With some prideful reluctance, she eventually agreed to a tandem wheelchair trip with me into town. As mother and son, we would wheel our way to Kent Ohio's once in a lifetime festivities.
I spent the morning charging the wheelchairs. When she arrived at 2:00, I gave my nanogenerian mother her first lesson in controlling an electric wheelchair and off we went. It was a beautiful day in Ohio. Mostly sunny and 70 degrees, we couldn't have asked for better conditions for our slow roll toward campus.
We took our time on the main street sidewalks,then through the noisy festivities downtown and then along Kent State's Esplanade. Everywhere we looked there were people on blankets and chairs with special glasses looking up toward the sky.
Twenty minutes before totality, my mom and I arrived at out destination, the Poetry Park at the Wick Poetry Center. Graciously welcomed by a few friends, we settled in on the grass for the big show.
As the sun gradually disappeared, it became strangely dark and cold and then it happened -- totality. It was so incredibly beautiful. I had no idea what to expect but this beauty surpassed all my expectations. No longer needing the special glasses, I looked up at the cantaloupe shaped moon backed by the glow of the sun with awe and wonder. Then the tiniest corner of the sun appeared and it was like an explosion of light. It looked like a diamond ring on the moon. Our whole group on that little hill was craving more, but the eclipse came to an end. With a glow in our hearts, my mom and began our slow rolling journey home.
My experience was a little different. At just about 70%, the eclipse in Denver was not quite as dramatic but it was very cool. I experienced it with 26 1st graders who were either terrified to look up or were secretly trying to look up without their glasses…because when your teacher warns you to be careful, that’s what one does when one is 7. lol. Besides the fact that they kept asking “when’s it going to happen” (I think with all the hype they were expecting aliens or something) while it was happening, it was an exciting experience.
Similar to you Hal, and many others - the experience exceeded whatever expectations I had. It was on the edge of overwhelming, and I felt quite emotional. Knowing the totality here in NE OH was a shared experience - whether you were by yourself, with one or two others or with a group - added so much. I think one of my favorite parts was hearing the little frog peepers "peep" as soon as totality occured. Cooler than cool! Seeing some of the stars/planets pop out, feeling the temp drop, seeing the shadows sharpen, the full round horizon twilight - all of it - so impactful and so brief. I think there's an allegory in there for us all! So glad you and your mom were able to share the total eclipse together, Hal. ❤💫
I planned to watch the eclipse with mom at a park near her house here in northeast OH. But life has a way changing your plans for you and she ended up needing to go to the ER on Sunday afternoon. So I spent Monday afternoon with mom in the hospital.
We still got to see the eclipse – but instead of sitting at the park, we were craning our necks at her hospital room window with a view of the brick walls surrounding that part of "2 North".
At least her window faced in the right direction and the brick walls stopped short of the open sky. I wanted to run outside to experience totality out in the open for a minute. But I also wanted to share it with mom and couldn't stand the thought of leaving her in her hospital room for that alone.
Then I thought of all the folks with windows facing the wrong way who were bed bound. A once-in-a-lifetime celestial event was unfolding right outside, and they were so close, but they missed it. So I was grateful to get to see it from mom's hospital room window with her.
In 2017 I had plans to drive to Wyoming to witness totality, but at the last minute my traveling companion cancelled and I opted not to go alone. I was so sad to miss it. I looked on the calendar for the next one and saw April 8 2024 in Cleveland! Cleveland! I’m going to Cleveland in 2024! Which at that point seemed so far away. I put it on my calendar. Promised I would go.
I had every intention of going to see totality with you and Mom, but it didn’t occur to me that tens of thousands of other people would be flying to my home airport too, so when I went to book my flight in February, flights were booked and prices of the flights that remained were prohibitive. So I opted to miss this once in a lifetime viewing of totality.
Yesterday I was outside at a coffee shop. It was sunny and warm-ish. I had picked up a few free eclipse glasses at the library the day before. I shared the glasses with my friend, and a few other people came over to ask if we could share our glasses. I had extras. I shared. We all sat there with our heads on the backs of the chairs looking at the 60% eclipse. It got dim and cool. We said “wow. cool.” Then we went back to our coffee. (Tho I was drinking tea)
The next one that comes through the US will be in Alaska in 2033. Then North Dakota jn 2044. Maybe I’ll make a trip to Alaska when I’m 70? Or North Dakota when I’m 80? I kinda bet I won’t. Which means there’s a good chance I’ll go through this lifetime without ever witnessing a total eclipse of the sun. I guess we just carry on.
I was at home, behind my desk, working all day to keep up with my overloaded agenda. In the Netherlands the eclips couldn't be seen, but even if I could have seen it, my day was totally filled with 'to do's".
How different in 2001 when the eclips was easily to see in the Netherlands. I was at work in an outdoorshop. From the big window of the shop we could see the sun, even it was a bit cloudy. I was a bit disappointed that there was still so much light, I expected it to be darker.
This memory brings me a reminder to live more to day; not driven by my agenda, but driven by the sun and the moon.
Here in NW Oregon, we got only 25% of THIS eclipse. But in August of 2017, I drove about 40 miles to the Path of Totality in McMinnville. It was spectacular. I understood why the Ancients were so terrified at eclipses. There weren't many people around to assure others (who would be far away in time and distance) that it was OK. The Sun would come back.
I was overjoyed to see you seeing the eclipse, Hal. That this remarkable event could be part of your life. I witnessed totality in April 1979 in Spokane WA, and have never forgotten that eeriness. Here in Spain we couldn’t see it, but my son Ben sent me some stunning photos and news of the event. He even found on the internet that a total eclipse will happen near where I live in northeastern Spain in 2024. And when I showed the eclipse photos to the kids I volunteer with after school, their eyes were suns, uneclipsed.
I didn’t see the eclipse but I have seen some fantastic photos from Cyprus and also Canada. Which I am delighted with . At the moment I am staying in North Devon and the weather hasn’t been clear . I am with friends tucked up in another world so I don’t feel deprived . I experienced the 99 occasion but not in a spectacular fashion as the sky wasn’t very clear . I love it that the net enables sharing so I am not disappointed . Glad you were able to enjoy it Hal
Hi Hal, I loved reading your story and seeing the photo of your wheeling to the Wick Poetry Center with your mom! Some days, we are so blessed, and I'm glad you got to have a great day with her.
I was actually in Cleveland for totality, but the magic was similar. I wrote this poem about it. It's not a great poem, but I am still in awe of that moment and amazing day. Love, Ginny
After the Eclipse
We knew the scientific explanations for this rare event:
a path across the continent,
moon shadow moving across the sun,
then darkness and cold
when the corona becomes a crescent, then a sliver,
then gone midday for just a moment.
We knew what would happen–and when.
We were prepared with our glasses and warnings and souvenirs.
We hoped for clear skies and gathered with intimates and strangers.
Still, we were surprised by four strange, beautiful minutes
when we were connected and quiet, awed in the power of nature
in a swath that held us, totally, hushed to know–even after this,
we are all under the same sky–
wondering at the patterns of the universe and our place in it–
I shared the totality of the eclipse with my older son, his wife, their 4 girls and a good friend of mine on my son's farm. As it got dark, the chickens dutifully marched into the barn, the goats paid absolutely no attention and we humans all sat in awe of what was unfolding before our shaded eyes. It became chilly and totally silent. No motors, no talking, no insect noises, no animal sounds, no birds chirping - just dark, silent, and beautiful. So many experiencing the same thing at the same time. Magic
I am going to attach a picture if I can do it right of myself and my niece watching the eclipse. We did not have a total eclipse as you did. Ours was about 80% but still very enjoyable. That is your Mom in the picture with you I guess. You are so very blessed to have her with you at this stage of your life and at her stage of life. I would love to be able to talk to my Mom again. Some day I will get to do that. Well, thats all I have tonight, love you.
The eclipse - magnificent, outstanding, miraculous, Wowzers and Woweeeee! Tom and I went over to Kevin and Dyan’s for a watch party. It was so fun to be with other people as they viewed the same major miracle I was watching. When I researched the statistics - like the moon was traveling at 2,288 mph, the sun was speeding at 500,000 miles mph, and the earth was moving at 66,611 mph, it was truly mind boggling! And how about this - the moon is 238,856 miles away, and the sun is 92,955,807 miles away! It is beyond amazing that the moon would obliterate the sun given all those factors. Then astronomers and scientists could exactly predict when everything would happen down to the minute, figure out the path of totality, and all the specific times for people in areas of partial eclipse! We don’t even feel the earth flying through space - thank God for gravity! When the moon covered the sun, there was an eery almost mystical feeling, with a darkness I would associate with very early morning, and a strange silence even though some people were talking. On a scale of extraordinary from 1- 10, it was at least a 20!
I didn't have a date for watching the eclipse, so I texted my mom. With some prideful reluctance, she eventually agreed to a tandem wheelchair trip with me into town. As mother and son, we would wheel our way to Kent Ohio's once in a lifetime festivities.
I spent the morning charging the wheelchairs. When she arrived at 2:00, I gave my nanogenerian mother her first lesson in controlling an electric wheelchair and off we went. It was a beautiful day in Ohio. Mostly sunny and 70 degrees, we couldn't have asked for better conditions for our slow roll toward campus.
We took our time on the main street sidewalks,then through the noisy festivities downtown and then along Kent State's Esplanade. Everywhere we looked there were people on blankets and chairs with special glasses looking up toward the sky.
Twenty minutes before totality, my mom and I arrived at out destination, the Poetry Park at the Wick Poetry Center. Graciously welcomed by a few friends, we settled in on the grass for the big show.
As the sun gradually disappeared, it became strangely dark and cold and then it happened -- totality. It was so incredibly beautiful. I had no idea what to expect but this beauty surpassed all my expectations. No longer needing the special glasses, I looked up at the cantaloupe shaped moon backed by the glow of the sun with awe and wonder. Then the tiniest corner of the sun appeared and it was like an explosion of light. It looked like a diamond ring on the moon. Our whole group on that little hill was craving more, but the eclipse came to an end. With a glow in our hearts, my mom and began our slow rolling journey home.
My experience was a little different. At just about 70%, the eclipse in Denver was not quite as dramatic but it was very cool. I experienced it with 26 1st graders who were either terrified to look up or were secretly trying to look up without their glasses…because when your teacher warns you to be careful, that’s what one does when one is 7. lol. Besides the fact that they kept asking “when’s it going to happen” (I think with all the hype they were expecting aliens or something) while it was happening, it was an exciting experience.
I can not tell you how much I love this. I talked to said nanogenerian last night and heard the joy and awe in her voice. Thank you, brother.
Similar to you Hal, and many others - the experience exceeded whatever expectations I had. It was on the edge of overwhelming, and I felt quite emotional. Knowing the totality here in NE OH was a shared experience - whether you were by yourself, with one or two others or with a group - added so much. I think one of my favorite parts was hearing the little frog peepers "peep" as soon as totality occured. Cooler than cool! Seeing some of the stars/planets pop out, feeling the temp drop, seeing the shadows sharpen, the full round horizon twilight - all of it - so impactful and so brief. I think there's an allegory in there for us all! So glad you and your mom were able to share the total eclipse together, Hal. ❤💫
I planned to watch the eclipse with mom at a park near her house here in northeast OH. But life has a way changing your plans for you and she ended up needing to go to the ER on Sunday afternoon. So I spent Monday afternoon with mom in the hospital.
We still got to see the eclipse – but instead of sitting at the park, we were craning our necks at her hospital room window with a view of the brick walls surrounding that part of "2 North".
At least her window faced in the right direction and the brick walls stopped short of the open sky. I wanted to run outside to experience totality out in the open for a minute. But I also wanted to share it with mom and couldn't stand the thought of leaving her in her hospital room for that alone.
Then I thought of all the folks with windows facing the wrong way who were bed bound. A once-in-a-lifetime celestial event was unfolding right outside, and they were so close, but they missed it. So I was grateful to get to see it from mom's hospital room window with her.
In 2017 I had plans to drive to Wyoming to witness totality, but at the last minute my traveling companion cancelled and I opted not to go alone. I was so sad to miss it. I looked on the calendar for the next one and saw April 8 2024 in Cleveland! Cleveland! I’m going to Cleveland in 2024! Which at that point seemed so far away. I put it on my calendar. Promised I would go.
I had every intention of going to see totality with you and Mom, but it didn’t occur to me that tens of thousands of other people would be flying to my home airport too, so when I went to book my flight in February, flights were booked and prices of the flights that remained were prohibitive. So I opted to miss this once in a lifetime viewing of totality.
Yesterday I was outside at a coffee shop. It was sunny and warm-ish. I had picked up a few free eclipse glasses at the library the day before. I shared the glasses with my friend, and a few other people came over to ask if we could share our glasses. I had extras. I shared. We all sat there with our heads on the backs of the chairs looking at the 60% eclipse. It got dim and cool. We said “wow. cool.” Then we went back to our coffee. (Tho I was drinking tea)
The next one that comes through the US will be in Alaska in 2033. Then North Dakota jn 2044. Maybe I’ll make a trip to Alaska when I’m 70? Or North Dakota when I’m 80? I kinda bet I won’t. Which means there’s a good chance I’ll go through this lifetime without ever witnessing a total eclipse of the sun. I guess we just carry on.
I was at home, behind my desk, working all day to keep up with my overloaded agenda. In the Netherlands the eclips couldn't be seen, but even if I could have seen it, my day was totally filled with 'to do's".
How different in 2001 when the eclips was easily to see in the Netherlands. I was at work in an outdoorshop. From the big window of the shop we could see the sun, even it was a bit cloudy. I was a bit disappointed that there was still so much light, I expected it to be darker.
This memory brings me a reminder to live more to day; not driven by my agenda, but driven by the sun and the moon.
Bye! Hanneke from The Netherlands
Here in NW Oregon, we got only 25% of THIS eclipse. But in August of 2017, I drove about 40 miles to the Path of Totality in McMinnville. It was spectacular. I understood why the Ancients were so terrified at eclipses. There weren't many people around to assure others (who would be far away in time and distance) that it was OK. The Sun would come back.
I was overjoyed to see you seeing the eclipse, Hal. That this remarkable event could be part of your life. I witnessed totality in April 1979 in Spokane WA, and have never forgotten that eeriness. Here in Spain we couldn’t see it, but my son Ben sent me some stunning photos and news of the event. He even found on the internet that a total eclipse will happen near where I live in northeastern Spain in 2024. And when I showed the eclipse photos to the kids I volunteer with after school, their eyes were suns, uneclipsed.
Being over in East of England, I don't have an eclipse story. But enjoyed reading about yours, Hal, with your dear mum alongside you.
I didn’t see the eclipse but I have seen some fantastic photos from Cyprus and also Canada. Which I am delighted with . At the moment I am staying in North Devon and the weather hasn’t been clear . I am with friends tucked up in another world so I don’t feel deprived . I experienced the 99 occasion but not in a spectacular fashion as the sky wasn’t very clear . I love it that the net enables sharing so I am not disappointed . Glad you were able to enjoy it Hal
Your sweet story! I saw the 89% eclipse through viewing glasses and I was moved to pray.
Hi Hal, I loved reading your story and seeing the photo of your wheeling to the Wick Poetry Center with your mom! Some days, we are so blessed, and I'm glad you got to have a great day with her.
I was actually in Cleveland for totality, but the magic was similar. I wrote this poem about it. It's not a great poem, but I am still in awe of that moment and amazing day. Love, Ginny
After the Eclipse
We knew the scientific explanations for this rare event:
a path across the continent,
moon shadow moving across the sun,
then darkness and cold
when the corona becomes a crescent, then a sliver,
then gone midday for just a moment.
We knew what would happen–and when.
We were prepared with our glasses and warnings and souvenirs.
We hoped for clear skies and gathered with intimates and strangers.
Still, we were surprised by four strange, beautiful minutes
when we were connected and quiet, awed in the power of nature
in a swath that held us, totally, hushed to know–even after this,
we are all under the same sky–
wondering at the patterns of the universe and our place in it–
small, together, looking up.
I shared the totality of the eclipse with my older son, his wife, their 4 girls and a good friend of mine on my son's farm. As it got dark, the chickens dutifully marched into the barn, the goats paid absolutely no attention and we humans all sat in awe of what was unfolding before our shaded eyes. It became chilly and totally silent. No motors, no talking, no insect noises, no animal sounds, no birds chirping - just dark, silent, and beautiful. So many experiencing the same thing at the same time. Magic
I am going to attach a picture if I can do it right of myself and my niece watching the eclipse. We did not have a total eclipse as you did. Ours was about 80% but still very enjoyable. That is your Mom in the picture with you I guess. You are so very blessed to have her with you at this stage of your life and at her stage of life. I would love to be able to talk to my Mom again. Some day I will get to do that. Well, thats all I have tonight, love you.
Sorry cannot figure it out.
You and your Mom eclipse bound! This photo is fantastic!
The eclipse - magnificent, outstanding, miraculous, Wowzers and Woweeeee! Tom and I went over to Kevin and Dyan’s for a watch party. It was so fun to be with other people as they viewed the same major miracle I was watching. When I researched the statistics - like the moon was traveling at 2,288 mph, the sun was speeding at 500,000 miles mph, and the earth was moving at 66,611 mph, it was truly mind boggling! And how about this - the moon is 238,856 miles away, and the sun is 92,955,807 miles away! It is beyond amazing that the moon would obliterate the sun given all those factors. Then astronomers and scientists could exactly predict when everything would happen down to the minute, figure out the path of totality, and all the specific times for people in areas of partial eclipse! We don’t even feel the earth flying through space - thank God for gravity! When the moon covered the sun, there was an eery almost mystical feeling, with a darkness I would associate with very early morning, and a strange silence even though some people were talking. On a scale of extraordinary from 1- 10, it was at least a 20!