Yes, I know I have something in my nose. I blew snot rockets during my early morning ruck and I never checked my nose after, which tells you how much advanced planning goes into these films. I also never looked in the mirror. That hair is a product of sweat, seven hundred miles in the van, at least three different hats, and bad genetics. And you wonder why I bailed on YouTube.
My eclipse didn’t go to plan, but that is entirely okay.
In fact, it was a good thing. I learned a lot during those two minutes and thirty seven seconds of totality that I never got to see. I learned that my family is an interesting mix of oddity, imperfection, tension, happiness and residue of those we have lost. I learned if you put us together in virtually any situation we will make the most of it.
I learned that dogs don’t like darkness during the day, but once the light returns, they return to things like digging up rocks and peeing on tripods. I learned that the instant sharing of the shared experience ruins the experience itself. And I learned that adventure isn’t based on success. I learned that cosmos, nature, tribe and self are part of every single thing we do. Not just the profound moments. And I learned that even after a forty five year break, I can still hit with a bow and arrow.
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“the shared experience ruins the experience itself”
It was 1999 I think when all Belgian and Dutch citizens were offered a total eclips.
I settled our tent on a campsite on the border of Luxemburg and Germany, topspot as the geniuses studying the universe told us. We were alone on the site until the night before D day when hundreds and hundreds of fellow Belgians and Dutchman drove up the campsite and pitched tents everywhere till 3 a.m. After a night with no sleep, disgusted by human behavior we left camp in the morning and drove home. I couldn’t care less for any eclips anymore and watched it later that day briefly on television. The one thing I remembered very well is how nature and it’s sounds just stopped as “stop” in my cd player. No more birds singing, no more dogs barking. The muting was more impressive as the darkening on midday for me.
Author
Hahahaha, yes, anytime we have to engage with the public at large it is a scary experience.
Which app do you use to take notes on the iPad. I’m new to iOS and haven’t found an app I like yet.
Author
I use Notability. Works great.
One armed handstands, dogs on camp chairs, and eclipses eclipsed by fanfare. Man, life has its complexity, but it’s kind of beautiful, too. As for mothers departing this crazy blue marble, I lost my Mom in 2021, so I know a bit about loss. She passed in my arms. But her spirit is always with me. Thanks for another splendid, discursive video!
Author
Yes, life is messy and once we embrace that reality, well, we’ll be better off.
I loved it as always! remember to make films during your travels!
Author
It’s SO hard and really changes the experience.
We had about 20% totality here, and I had no desire to travel to where there would be a 100% totality. My experience with celestial events is that atmospheric events, usually clouds, interfere, so I don’t get too worked up. I’m all excited because I’ve got a Blurb book coming on Monday, and I’m planning an opening ceremony with my model. And you’ve got TWO ready to open. Yay us! Not interested in getting a 3rd person review, as long as my model is happy, I’m happy. And books. I’ll see if those two big dense books are in are library. I’ve enjoyed several of the books you’ve mentioned. Lately I’ve been reading about and looking at photos by Irving Penn, and Richard Avedon. Lots to think about there, although not the cigar butts, ew.
Author
It never gets old. A new book. I finally opened one….it’s a good first start.
Always appreciate your book recommendations!
Author
Just finished two more. Both awesome.
Hello, Dan. In my part of the world, the only total eclipse was the one in 1999. I was on top of a ten story building with my trusty EOS 500 Canon. Great memory!
Author
What part is that?
Bucharest, Romania 🙂
Author
Lovely. We were talking about trying to do a workshop there….
That would be WOW! We’ll talk about it in September. 🙂 Brașov is also a very nice city by the mountains, 2 1/2 h by train from Bucharest. I’ll bring travel guides.
Author
Probably not until late 2025 at the earliest.