Experiencing the Solar Eclipse Path of Totality

I admit, it has taken me a few days to wrap my head around what just happened.

The moon, quite literally, had her day in the sun. 

I was there to see the whole thing with my small people. It was a full-body, full-sensory, potentially once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The wind picked up and then went silent. The birds and crickets, once chattering without pause, fell silent. The temperature dropped at least 15 degrees (thank goodness, as we were sitting well over 90 degrees with a heat index over 105). The sky slowly darkened and the streetlights came on. A chill moved through my body, giving me goosebumps, though I’m certain that was more in response to the awe and emotion of the moment than to the temperature dropping.

I have to admit, my obsession with this day started late. I haven’t been tracking it for more than a year as many have been. It was as I learned about it in the previous few weeks that I knew it could be a moment we will never share again.

The next time there will be a solar eclipse near us is in 2024 – and though it will move from Mexico to Canada – through the very southern tip of Missouri – it won’t be coast to coast as this one was. The next time THAT happens, my small people will be in their 50’s – CRAZY!

So, we loaded up the car with chairs, blankets and pillows, a picnic and grabbed the kiddos.

We went a bit further south from our house JUST to make sure we were fully within the path to have the full experience.

And it was magical.

We watched the moon gobble the sun….my kiddos describing it as Pacman, as the smile from the Chesire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, as a banana and accurately – as a ‘Crescent Sun’.

This was so much bigger than us. The world around us, the moon, stars and sun have their own version of magic. Taking the time to fully absorb it and LET IT HAPPEN as we watched is something we won’t soon forget.

As the sky darkened and the moon moved in to place, covering the sun entirely – there was a moment of silence and then a chorus of squeals, shrieks, laughs and even tears (raises hand) as we were able to take just less than two minutes to stare directly up, noting the stars and planets making themselves visible – until the ‘diamond ring’ appeared and our glasses were once again necessary.

Here is a quick (but fun, and dramatic) compilation of our day.

I hope you were able to catch a glimpse….if not, feel free to take a look at my Facebook live as it happened, and DEFINITELY check out this extraordinary collection of some of the very best captures.

And finally, keep your kiddos interested in science even after this incredible solar eclipse experience.