Making the Internet My Accountability Partner

Featured Photo by Uriel Soberanes on Unsplash

Every so often the northern hemisphere will experience a solar eclipse. The last time this happened, I was working summer camp. Due to the camp not having the eclipse glasses and kids being kids, we were instructed to spend the entirety of the event indoors with the blinds drawn. I did pull up the news broadcast of the event but because I was responsible for children I don’t remember actually watching the eclipse on the news.

So I was excited to get a second chance. I had put on my calendar that I needed to buy eclipse glasses and even looked up where I could buy ISO-approved glasses. And yet each time I was out, either the places were not open or I talked myself out of going out of my way to get them. Given that I was so excited why would I talk myself out of them? The primary concern was practicality. I knew I’d be working during the eclipse, and while I do get a few minutes between sessions I did not know that I really wanted to spend money on a piece of plastic (or plastic-coated paper) that I would use for about 10 minutes and then throw away.

So instead, I worked my usual day. I did leave my curtains open because I can’t see the sun from my desk chair, so I wouldn’t be damaging my eyes. I did get to watch as the world darkened for a bit and then returned to normal. Unlike the photos I’ve seen of the totality, it didn’t get completely dark in Boston. Instead of looking like night had fallen, Boston was dark in a way reminiscent of a storm. I did briefly consider the idea of taking off the next time a solar eclipse comes around, but if I’m going to use PTO to view the sky, I’d much rather cross the Northern Lights off my bucket list.

I do think it’s a little wild though that I take such a fascinating natural phenomenon for granted. I’m sure in my lifetime an eclipse will happen on a weekend or holiday that I already have off, in which case I plan to take full advantage. Considering I’ve missed both recent eclipses I’d love to hear your experiences of the eclipse. Did you get to take off work? Did you travel for the totality? What are your thoughts for the next time an eclipse happens?