April 8, 2024: Eclipse in America.
While the midday Sun washed acrossed the face of the nation, Americans of all shapes and sizes sat waiting patiently for the “event of a lifetime.” A solar eclipse was cutting a swath through our lives and our land, and collectively the world held its breath in awe.
The site of the Moon passing in front of the Sun did not disappoint.
But while the rest of the world was looking up for four minutes, I noticed some other amazing things.
For at least four minutes, no one argued about the upcoming presidential race.
For at least four minutes, no one was looking at their smartphone for the latest video on TikTok.
For at least four minutes, everyone rejoiced — at something otherworldly.
Forbes reported the eclipse was “the most watched event ever,” viewed by as many as 50 million Americans.
Amazing.
Fifty million Americans, together. Embracing science, nature, and of course each other.
With no masks.
Four years ago, the same 50 million Americans were hunkered down in their homes, hiding from a killer virus scorching the land with death. Americans avoided contact with each other like the plague in order to survive the plague.
And here we are, today, together again. For the first time since that plague, we as Americans found something, some reason, to come together again without fear or loathing.
There was no rage, no war, no animosity, no fear of disease. Just Americans embracing their freedom — the ability to move freely about, to get to a spot of their own choosing, and watch the spectacular show in the sky.
And while it was spectacular, it paled in comparison to the show on the ground: the show of Americans gathering freely together again.
If you missed the eclipse, you can catch it on every morning show or YouTube videos today or tomorrow — whenever it’s convenient.
But if you missed the gathering of Americans, you truly missed that “once in a lifetime event.”
You missed the real special event that no one planned: Americans being Americans again.
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