Annular Eclipse 2023

https://nationaleclipse.com/maps_2023.html

This link shows a map of the best places to see the annular eclipse on October 14th. It appears the best place for the longest viewing would be Corpus Christi, TX. The closest place for us to view would be around Elko, Nevada. My daughter and son-in-law rented an AirBNB and plan to arrive the night before, then come home after the eclipse is over.

Since my husband’s surgery is this Tuesday, I am not sure that we will make it to see the eclipse this year. I am keeping my fingers crossed that my husband will feel up to the drive. If not, c’est la vie. You can’t always get what you want. (Humming a tune in my head, now.)

An interesting fun fact about Elko, Nevada, is that my parents were married there in 1962. Who gets married in Elko, Nevada? Well, apparently, back in the day, that was the place to get married. I have met several people over the years who were married there. It was inexpensive and easy to do.

My dad’s brother and sister-in-law picked up my dad and mom with their green ’57 Chevy and drove the few hours to Elko where my parents were married by the Justice of the Peace. My mom had enough money to buy my dad a shirt, her dress, and her $11 wedding band. What a crazy way to start a life of 61 years together!

Anyway, in 2017, a full lunar eclipse passed directly over our town. People came from all over the United States, filling up the AirBNB’s, hotels, KOA’s and any open area they could find to camp. My husband and I, with our eclipse glasses in hand and camp chairs in the trunk of the car, drove over to my childhood home, where my parents still live, and readied my parents, our daughter, her husband, their 4-mo-old baby boy, and ourselves on the front lawn for the perfect view of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I remember, as the moon fully eclipsed the sun’s light, feeling a bit of a surreal, sort of spiritual, deeply moving unexplainable experience. I understand why hundreds of people came from all over the nation to experience that one brief moment. I remember, after that moment, hearing clapping and cheering up and down the block in our neighborhood. It was almost as if there needed to be a release of all the incredibleness everyone was feeling from that amazing experience. I still get goosebumps thinking about it. 😊

I am not sure if this eclipse event next weekend will have the same effect since it is not a total eclipse, but it would be fun to compare!

Road Trippin’

The night before a road trip is usually spent finishing up the last bit of laundry, then packing the suitcase. It is a night I should go to bed early to get the best night’s sleep possible. Instead, I find it difficult to fall asleep. Probably, because I am too busy thinking that I need to fall asleep so I can feel rested for driving the next day. Ha. Ha.

Tomorrow, I need to wake up at my regular early time, get ready for the day, and head to work. After I am off work, around 3pm, we are headed to U of U. Our daughter will keep an eye on the house for us this week.

Even though this is a relatively short three and a half hour “road trip” and we have been there several times before, I am not looking forward to leaving after work. It will make for a long day, plus we will arrive around rush hour. I suppose that will make for a good night’s sleep, however, before my husband’s surgery the next day.

We hope he only needs to stay in the hospital a day or two, but I made the reservation for a few nights, just in case the surgery is more complicated than expected. My husband and I are very hopeful for a positive outcome that will mean less pain and better movement in his knee once the patella debris is removed and the healing begins. Fingers crossed and lots of prayers!