Rant #3,318: Total Eclipse of the Heart

We have coming up on April.8 the first total solar eclipse that we have experienced in 99 years.

I remember some partial eclipses--I distinctly remember watching one while in school.using some type of paper or cardboard configuration to witness this thing as it happened--but this will be the first total one that most of us have experienced in our lifetimes.

And you have to be very, very careful.

The eclipse will be viewable from Texas to Maine at different times of the day.

In my neck of the woods, the eclipse comes to New York at 3:16 p.m. and lasts until 3:29 p.m. or so.

And you can't look at it without special glasses which many outlets are giving out for free, and there are some other ways to see it, like that paper method I described to you earlier.

New York State camp grounds are sold out, because you can see the eclipse better in wide-open spaces.

And the public has pretty much been told to stay off the roads when this is happening, and I will bet that during the time of the eclipse, the world here is pretty much going to stand still.

You won't see very many people on the street, and I bet homes and businesses will close their blinds and people will just chill out while this is happening.

I can't go out without assistance due to my injury, so I will be indoors when this is happening.

I usually go out to take a walk and go to the area where our mailbox is located om around this time every day, but on April 8, I will take a break from that exercise.

My son has a day off on April 8, and he was going to meet up with a friend on that day, but at my urging, he has changed that date.

My family will be inside the house, with the curtains drawn, because we do not need any problems related to our eyesight related to the eclipse.

I know someone whose eyesight was affected by a partial eclipse, and believe me, no one should have to go through this.

I would rather err on the side of caution, if you know what I mean.

I mean, this is a wonderful happening thst we all can get together on as a society. 

But if you don't know what you are doing, or if you aren't into this event, I would just bypass it and stay indoors if possible.

The word is getting out about this right now, so the public knows about it, knows of the beauty of it, and also knows of the potential dangers of this event.

Personally, I'd rather see pictures and video of it the day after than when it is actually happening.

Again, I admit to erring on the side of caution, but that is the way I feel.

And you just know that people will try to film the eclipse with their phones.

Every report I have read states that it is not a good idea to do so, and only special cameras can actually record the eclipse successfully.

But you know how it is now: "Have Phone, Will Record Everything," and you just know that people will try to record this, and probably ruin their phone's camera, and possibly their own eyesight, by doing so.

And finally, what happens if the weather is bad, or at least obscured by pollution?

Well, if the weather is lousy that day, that is just the way it is.

And if pollution or other obstacles stand in the way of viewing the eclipse properly, that is just the way it is, too.

In New York State, less populous areas away from New York City are the prime areas to get the best view of the eclipse, so most people won't get a prime view of this event anyway.

And if you miss it this time, the next total solar eclipse is on August 23, 2044--

A significant day in my family, because my son will celebrate his 49th birthday that day--

And no eclipse will take any shine off of that day for him, I can tell you that for sure.