EASY people. Whoa. Hold up a minute partner. Don’t go confusing me with someone who found religion, or even someone who went looking for it in the first place. My religion is TRI-X in hot Rodinal. Let’s just get that straight right up front. But. There is something biblical about the profound celestial elegance above and the twisted, toxic human condition below. Been in a porta potty lately? Ya, you get my point. Grayrocks, Wyoming. Population unknown. Wind-blow camper shells crusted in dust. Observation equipment strung out like crab pots on the Bering Sea, rolling hillside as humans scatter and wait. Goosebumps on my arm as the temperature drops and the elderly woman next to me says “Holy shit.” “…your Goddamn right.”
Sister on her back on the tailgate just taking it in, finding her own message as her lips move in silence. A reckoning perhaps as she talks it out internally. This is the kind of thing best experienced alone and in silence. Headlights blaze from surrounding country as workers try their best to ignore the gathering night coming dead center in the middle of the day. If this is the end then it’s a damn pretty one.
The shadow comes like a last breath. Sweeping across the prairie like a demon. Powerless I stand and watch my head turning as if could follow the wave to the horizon line. Heartbeat in my ears, grit in my dry mouth, fingers nervous on the controls as a great cheer emerges from the darkness. We are here, alone and together as the moment draws down. The glowing orb turns its fury on the rock in its path, our vision lit by the promise of what is left.
The curtain is raised, slowly at first, then full on as the furnace comes to a roar once again.
PS: My little Blurb, Self-Pub project is coming to an end. My 1100 mile voyage to CA begins tomorrow. I’ll be off the grid until then but will put the finishing touches on the book-and have it off to the printer-within a week. After that I’ll begin again. I hope sharing this project has been educational, and I hope it helps you get your own project up and running.
Comments 26
Two thumbs up. Just what I needed before getting on a plane.
Author
Sean,
Cool, glad you approve.
Inspiring, thank you for sharing.
Author
Thanks Claudia. Appreciate you reading.
Love it, the best report of the eclipse I’ve seen. Thanks for sharing, drive safe, go back soon!
Author
Thanks Mike. It’s funny, I couldn’t look at the IG feed or media coverage, at all. It was like a firehouse. Too much, too fast, with what seemed like millions of people trying to post as fast as humanly possible. I went dark for a day. Get it….Dark????
I’ve really liked this series. It’s been enjoyable watching you develop this idea.
And “finding religion” isn’t a bad thing. :o)
Author
Eric,
Not sure what I would do if I found it? Sell it? Hide it? Share it? Religion is truly interesting thing, for sure. Like an endless well. I find mine, I think, in nature and science. And good coffee, great light and 1/500th of a second.
I’ve completely enjoyed this series and hope that you do more… It has certainly generated a thought process for my own project. Thanks for the effort in putting this together and for sharing your process and thoughts along the way!
Author
What up Tucky,
Austin hot enough for you about now? It’s been fun, and will continue when I get the book oiled up and off to the printer. Thanks for following.
I’m very much over the heat…. Headed to Europe in a couple of weeks to get out of it. Project while there is being formulated in my mind as I type.
Travel safely!
Author
Larry,
One spread a day. One copy block. Combine the two.
That’s the plan… I’m taking your cue and trying to lay it out now before I head that way…. Two books in the works actually, one family and one this trip to Europe…
Author
Larry,
Makes a huge difference.
A perfect way to end these project updates. I’ve really enjoyed reading them all and following you along virtually on your travels.
I’m really glad you got to go on the road again and pursue personal projects, it sounded like you were having fun.
Have a safe journey back and I shall look forward to reading about what you have next planned…
Author
Thanks Paul,
Glad you found something valuable. It’s been a great week that felt like a month.
Always sad and great to close a chapter. The great thing is the result. A personal passionated book you will have in your hands very soon. This is the moment you will go back in you mind and experience the moments again! Would love to see it one day! Safe travels and see you on the tour Daniel!
Author
Wim,
Yes, that baby will continue when the book is in my hands. I share some of what I do in the coming days, weeks. Then….time for another.
I really have enjoyed this inspiring series and your posts from Wyoming immensely and regret not going to the US to witness this eclipse. Will have to be Texas in 7 years!
I hope you will show us the final book as well.
Author
Dear Luke,
Yes, more posts when I get home and hose down every article of anything I brought on this trip. You should see the inside of my truck. Yesterday afternoon I was having trouble seeing the gauges through the dirt. And my camera looks pretty bad too, but it still works. I like the little thing, even with the booster it still feels great. Didn’t get to shoot as much as I would have liked, but was balancing history, family and experience. The eclipse was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen. Earlier in the day a lady driving a water truck tried to block the road and told me to “f^%$ off,” and even that couldn’t dampen the day. (California plates in Wyoming is a bad thing.) More posts about edit, design and book are forthcoming.
We in Belgium had a full eclipse in 1999. We went for the maximum experience by travelling south to Luxemburg. At 2.00am the night before the eclipse day a human crowd entered the quiet campsite in the woods and made life and the experience litterlarly a nightmare. I loaded my gear, started the car and left the sillyness behind. Enjoyed the partial eclipse at home in a quieter atmosphere cut off hysteria. Human condition is predictable. You just have to counteract when the idiots enter the room. Glad you did tbis though, even without eclipse it would have been as inspirational for me.
Author
Reiner,
We got lucky. Had a house to stay at in the totality zone. Only had to drive 15 mins from eclipse to get back home then holed up for two days waiting for people to leave. Casper to Cheyenne, a 1.5 hour drive took people eight hours.
Can’t wait. The next one in 7 years…the dead center of the totality zone passes less than a couple miles from my house in Bloomington, IN.
Author
Hey Eric,
My dad got thrown out of IU! Claim to fame.
You’re dad is Bobby Knight? 🙂
Author
Eric,
He is.