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Shadows Of The Eclipse. [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-10-17  

My son called me to come outside Saturday morning. I'd lost track of the time and the solar eclipse was already underway. When I stepped outside the first thing I noticed was the strange, orange-ish, murky light. It seemed oddly familiar; eventually I remembered. It was similar to daylight filtered through the smoke of a wildfire. A bit unnerving, that. The songbirds got quiet while our ducks set up a chatter, as if it were dusk.

We had a single pair of eclipse-viewing glasses, the cardboard and plastic kind that resemble old fashioned 3-D movie theater glasses. He had his cellphone, I had my Kindle; we shared the glasses between us, and took some pictures. If the actual ring of fire effect could be seen here (in northern Arizona) we missed it. But we enjoyed the show very much while it lasted, and got a few interesting pictures.

What fascinated me most was the shadows cast by the eclipse. I've seen several solar eclipses in my life, but never had I seen shadows like these. I don't know why. I'm a fairly observant person. But if this had happened before I'd somehow overlooked it.

My son captured this on his cellphone.

And this as well.

The shadows created odd rippling effects.

It made the pavers on my patio look as if under water.

It was very fleeting and constantly shifting.

I've never seen anything like it.

And it was over all too soon.

And then it was over. Gradually yet swiftly, the orange tinted light faded and the strange shadows disappeared. It was again a brilliantly sunny, ordinary autumn morning. I had a few photos, and memories that will last as long as I do myself.

On an otherwise ordinary day, for just a few minutes, I got to see something that I will remember as long as I live. Nature is magical; to witness that magic firsthand is a privilege. The experience was profoundly moving. I hardly have the words to adequately explain. It was like an overwhelming clarity and awareness of how very, very small I am, how very brief this moment. And yet each are part of the endless, infinite Whole. Now and always.

Thank you for reading. This is an open thread, all topics are welcome. If you have your own photos of the eclipse I would like to see them.

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