On August 21, 2017, the girlfriends got together to celebrate the total eclipse of the sun in Idaho Falls.  We used the event as a reason to gather.  We didn’t know much about an eclipse, and we really weren’t too concerned.  It is safe to say we were not prepared for the impact of the event. 

We spent the day prior to the eclipse roaming the IF area to check out all the people who wanted in on the action.  There were a lot of them.  We bought t-shirts commemorating “Eclipse 2017” and eclipse glasses.  We played cards, laughed, visited, and ate. 

The 21st arrived and we set up chairs in Deb’s yard and settled in for the cosmic event.  We put on our glasses and got comfortable.  As the moon started to move in front of the sun, light dimmed, and it became noticeably cooler.  It got darker and darker.  Cooler and cooler.  Everything went still.  When the sun was totally eclipsed, the world went black and cold for a moment.  There were no words to describe the feelings.

As the moon continued to slip past the sun; light, heat and energy were restored.  The world returned to normal except for the mass exodus from Idaho Falls.  All on-ramps to I-15 were backed up for miles. It was back to life in the fast lane, only in this case the lanes were at a standstill.  I decided then and there to get to the next eclipse that was in the Western US.  

October 14, 2023.  Beaver, Utah.  This time it’s an “annular” eclipse which means when the moon moves in front of the sun a ring of fire will be visible around the moon.  We are taking the grandkids to Beaver to witness this “Cosmic Event of the Year.”  We have our eclipse glasses.  We’ve rented an Airbnb.  When this article appears in The Enterprise the eclipse will be over.  I wish I would have written this in time to encourage you to go to Beaver.  If you haven’t witnessed an eclipse the next one in the contiguous US will be on April 8, 2024.  It will require some travel.  Its path starts in Texas and moves northeast to Maine.  After that you will have to wait until 2044. 

Cosmic events help keep life in perspective and reinforce humility.  They remind us that Life is Good, especially when the sun is shining!