Total Solar Eclipse

Eclipse in Lowell, MA

Total Solar Eclipse of Monday, April 8, 2024

There was a great deal of excitement about the total eclipse in the United State. Its path swept across central Mexico, parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Main and South Canada. There were 15 U.S. states within total darkness.

I was not paying attention to the detail until NPR in my car was full into the theme. Their interviews from different cities and places tweaked my indifference to enthusiasm. I was already on the way to my son’s house to take gifts for my twin granddaughters 15^th birthday. And was surprised to see that they made some homemade devices to watch the eclipse. Although, their father’s warning that it could be dangerous for their eyes and general uncertainty about the time and the place had already dampened the curiosity. However, when I asked my expert, grandson about it, he put cold water on it by saying it was already over because it was already almost 4 pm and was done at 3:29. I was not totally convinced. 

A little deflated, I decided to proceed with my days to-do list which was go for my daily walk first and then the rest. I parked my car and began my walk and saw some stragglers with solar opticals etc. when I passed two ladies with solar opticals, I asked how they enjoyed looking at the eclipse. Their response surprise me when one of them said that they can see it was just beginning. One of them went as far as to offer me her solar eclipse glasses. I was excited, but at first could not see anything. After adjusting my glasses and position I saw that part of the sun was dark. It was a thrill. I was to hold on to her glasses and see the performance by the moon and the sun.  those ladies definite were there for it. I decided to thank them for the treat and proceeded to my walk. I sincerely hoped that it would still be happening when I came back. But searching of line while walking, I realized that the eclipse in our area was only partial so must have been extremely lucky to catch it at its prime. It was almost like a spiritual experience.

I came home and announced to everyone what I had just seen, expecting a array of disappointments for having missing something so historical as solar eclipse although it was not a total eclipse in our area. Instead, I was disappointed that nobody was envious of me for having accomplished a feat of luck, in my opinion. 

But another thing piqued my desire is to absorb all the frantic enthusiasm and happiness.  I heard on NPR’s broadcast of Judy Joo’s, a Korean host of a show called Korean Made Easy, presentation of a Whoopi pie recipe as a fun  scientific aspect of eclipse by baking Whoopi pies or moon pies.

Click here for Whoopi pies