The road ends, but the journey continues...

Totally Awesome Totality

Yep, this is a bit on the late side. I realized I kept commenting on other blogs about my personal experience with Totality but held back from crafting a post for my own blog. The key here is in the word ‘craft’ as in: taking time to make it blog-worthy.  Just saying ‘wow, that was cool’ or ‘it was the experience of a lifetime’ isn’t my type of blog-worthiness, but the ‘awesomeness’ of the event just doesn’t translate well into words.

Me, before Totality

Me, before Totality


At least for me.
And while I’m more inclined to craft a poem rather than labor over prose, I’m running low on the patience factor for that sort of creation these days.
So pardon me as I fulfill the urge to post my own reactions via placing those comments via bullet points here:

  • Total Eclipse Dillon Park, Sumter, South Carolina

    Total Eclipse Dillon Park, Sumter, South Carolina


    We went to Dillon Park in Sumter…let me tell you – the absolute BEST! Chicken me even took off those glasses for the ‘safe’ 90 plus seconds. And just for the record, the sky was midnight blue not black during totality, we got to see Venus as well as the corona and we were bathed in more of a type of ‘moonlight’ softness. Geez, I really should do a blog post on this! HA!
Hubby, after Totality

Hubby, after Totality

  • Still glowing in solar bliss…we went to Sumter, SC a stone’s throw from the venue where I gave my SwS presentation June 3rd (about 50 minutes from where we currently live)…and got to see it at 100% totality! I had been prepping myself to buck up and just take those darn glasses off during the ‘safe’ time, (such a counter intuitive thing to do) so with a little ooohing and ahhhing encouragement from hubby, I had ’em off and: WOW!
    Not a pitch black sky, more a midnight blue and felt like moonlight on a clear evening…crickets started chirping – then just as suddenly stopped!
    The whole camera thing is way over-rated, nothing’s like the real thing!!!! I really should blog a bit about the experience, but maybe I’ll simmer on a song for later?

I’ll end it there, with the possibility of a future composition in the works…

20 Comments

  1. Megan Lewellyn

    hhhmmm Went to look for the “like” button, but it doesn’t seem to be there?
    So, here is my LIKE:)
    Meg

    • laura bruno lilly

      Thanks! I noticed that happens from time to time on other blogs I visit as well…
      🙁
      Stay well, I hope you have a great week.

  2. Anna Scott Graham

    We had a partly cloudy morning to start with here, but enough of the haze lifted so I could enjoy a little darkening of the skies. Hung laundry while admiring the altered light, what an experience! Yours sounds very cool; did you notice a change in temps? I didn’t, but my sis in southern Oregon did. 😉
    duskyone-offpeace

    • laura bruno lilly

      That term ‘altered light’ is very correct…especially after the Totality – sharp and crisp white emergent sunlight.
      Yes, it gradually got drier (as in less humid) and a good 10 degrees cooler…very comfortable for that bit of time. It was in the high 90’s low 100’s with just as much humidity that day, but more than worth it, believe me!
      focusedonthetruelightoftheworldpeace

  3. Jayne Bowers

    I’m so glad you decided to write about the experience, Laura. I’m thinking your followers will see a different (musical or poetic or both) of this memory in the future.

    • laura bruno lilly

      Yeah, great inspiration for future projects. Thanks for stopping by, Jayne.

  4. Andy

    Thanks for your account. In the 1990’s I planned to travel down south to Cornwall to witness a total eclipse, but my plans went awry with a very young daughter and other mitigating factors at the time. I was disappointed, but that’s life. Maybe one day I will experience one, but, more likely, I will witness it second hand from accounts such as yours.

    • laura bruno lilly

      Happy to share – second hand accounts are vastly underrated…if not for them, how’d we get to know stuff beyond our individual circle of opportunities?

  5. Jane Chesebrough

    Those were exactly the words I used, “awesome”, “cool” and “wow!” i like all the “t’s ” in the title. I think you were brave looking at the eclipse when it was total, but sure it is an unforgettable experience.

    • laura bruno lilly

      Taking off those glasses during totality was indeed a biggie for me – trusting the science behind exposing my eyes to something ingrained in me to not do under everyday circumstances??!!!
      but, yeah wow, cool & awesome it was for sure!
      🙂

  6. L. Marie

    How lovely, Laura! So glad you posted about this event! Glad you got to see 100% totality. What a great experience! And how cool that it happened not far from where you gave your presentation!!!

    • laura bruno lilly

      Yeah, there’s just something about Sumter that goes way beyond the North/South thing.

  7. Sarah

    What a truly magnificent moment you had, Laura! Thank you so much for sharing it with us! 😀

    • laura bruno lilly

      Happy to oblige, Sarah!

  8. Jill Weatherholt

    Thanks for sharing this memorable event with us, Laura. No doubt, it’s something you’ll never forget.

    • laura bruno lilly

      You sure got that right, Jill!

  9. Sue Ranscht

    I’d love to hear you turn your experience into a song. It could be more about the feeling than a description, and help those of us who sat in far less shadowed realms touch the essence that separates totality from anything less. <3

    • laura bruno lilly

      Actually, what you’re saying lines up well with my bent towards instrumental music composition – as it lends itself more towards essence than ‘directed imagery via words/lyrics’.
      Glad you got to experience a part of it in your area.

  10. Jennie Fitzkee

    I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post, Laura. What a moment! Thank you for not jumping on the bandwagon with words that have been worn down with overuse. I’m with ya!

    • laura bruno lilly

      Huge sigh of relief…glad we relate!
      🙂

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