It Hasn't Happened in 38 Years

Well, naturally: Maleen.

Yes, 38 years ago, Maleen was born. Turns out she's one of a kind, and that's...

No, it just happens that Maleen is the same age as the last total solar eclipse in America. Yes, it's been that long!

We had a conundrum about how we were going to celebrate this milestone. Idaho Falls, one of the premier viewing locations in the country is only a four-hour drive north of here. There was talk of AirBNB home rentals at $1500 per night in IF! Bonus, I'm from there, so I had free room and board with Mom and my brothers.

However, we were also starting school this week. Back to school night was Monday night, and classes start on Tuesday. There was a good chance we'd be back on Tuesday — assuming we didn't hit too much traffic on the way back — but there was little or no chance we'd make it for back to school night. Then there was the traffic: Idaho Falls, booming metropolis of 65,000, was expect to triple in size. Officials prognosticated shortages of everything from gas to water, from food to toilet paper.

So, we put it to the girls: who wants to go? The vote was originally 4-1 going. 5-2 if you count Mom and Dad. Over time, it became 4-3, then 3-4. Before it got any lower, I figured I needed to get in the van and GO! So, after the June's dance, we piled in the car (Dad, June, and Robyn) and headed for the land of the eclipse. It was late when we drove up, but there was a steady channel of cars pushing northward to Idaho Falls until 2:00 a.m. when we finally arrived.

We ended up going to church with Grandma. Church in Idaho is always great. Firstly, I'm usually going on some event weekend and other people from my youth end up there on the same weekends as I. The eclipse was no different. It's odd because I know all these people have grown up, moved away, and have families of their own. Yet, when I'm in town, there they are! It's like they never left. They must think the same was as I do.

Note to self: when you're packing your Sunday best, pants are included. If you don't pack pants, you have to go to church in your jeans and a suit coat. While this may pass for "dressed up" in Texas, in Idaho, they just wonder about some bizarre fashion craze that hasn't hit sage-brush country yet.

Sunday was great. We spent the day with the Ks and the Js, and we had a wonderful time. It occurred to me after the trip that this was probably the last time we would get to play with Kaysen. He'll be leaving on his mission soon, and it's likely that the next time we see him, it will be his farewell.

We all retired on Sunday night, ready for the eclipse on Monday. We were all excited, and none of us quite knew what to expect.

And so dawned Monday. By 10:00 the crew was assembled in the driveway on lawn chairs, sipping sodas, and staring into the sky with our solar glasses on.

I even had my binos ready for the event. I got some great photos of the eclipse projection. Yes, that's my dapper shadow with the projection of a 35% eclipsed sun on it...projected via the binos.

Robyn had conscripted the local quadraped into the experience. I'm not sure Pip knew (or cared) what was going on. She was happy to be in a lap. 

The sun slowly approached the mark. 

We didn't know exactly what to expect during the total maximum of the eclipse, but it was incredible. It started to get darker and the temperature rapidly cooled off. We saw shadow bands like light on the bottom of a pool reflecting across the driveway. And then, all at once it was dark. Yes, dark. We could see stars and planets in the sky. We took off our solar shades and stared in awe at the sun through the binos. 

Here's the solar eclipse, though the photo doesn't do it justice. The camera sort of wigged out under these strange light conditions. On the right, you can clearly see Venus...at 11:30 nearly mid day. The sky was dark. Breathtaking. 

The pictures we took don't do it justice. It's something you experience, and no picture will ever capture the experience. 

Then we had to get home: the girls literally had school the next day. But when to leave? The shortages largely fell short (pun intended). But there was no shortage of cars. By 12:00 noon Kathryn was ready to go — she had business in Salt Lake City. So, she hit the road. After an hour, she had made it to the on ramp for I-15 (about 7 minutes from the house), and concluded that it was best to turn around and return home. 

The girls and I waited until about 2:15 checking the traffic reports every 10 minutes. When it looked like the projection was coming down, we said it was time to go and hit the road. 

It took us about 5 hours and plenty of backroad navigation to get back home. This is usually a 3 and a half hour drive. So it wasn't terrible, but it certainly added to our travel time. That said, even with terrible traffic, it was spectacular. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. 

So, you know where I'll be on April 8th of 2024. Or at least you know where I'll be within a 60-mile band from Texas to Maine. See you there.