Midlothian, Texas, U.S.A. – Today’s solar eclipse was an event to behold for the many that were lucky enough to experience it and worth the wonder that it managed to inspire in so many people.
At first, nothing was really noticeable. It was a normal sunny day that could be flipped on its head by just looking up at the sun using the world’s most dysfunctional sunglasses.
It was still very hot here in Texas and wearing formal wear for an unrelated event definitely made that fact even harder to ignore.
Slowly, the temperature began to drop and as it did, the awe of seeing the shape of the moon cover the biggest light in the sky rose.
However, as the awe grew, so did the smallest twinge of terror, as all the many different warnings about not looking at the sun to ensure safe retinas rattled around many brains.
Luckily enough, you could look at the sky to behold it in short bursts while managing to keep your eyesight.
Then the moon encroached further and further, making it visibly darker to go along with the slight chill.
It kept moving more and more into the view of the sun until it completely blotted out all the light in the sky that couldn’t escape past its round edges.
As the moon moved along its path, it built a sort of suspense as what totality would look like.
It was one of those moments that completely translates what living inside of a movie would feel like.
And then we all saw it. A black pit in the sky surrounded by white light and we were sitting in dusk for four whole minutes of what felt like a very surreal experience of doing one of the things we are often told not to do as children.
We stared at the sun and marveled as it took on a form that was not familiar because its sheer rays were covered by one of the things in the sky that we spend so much time looking at.
Mix all of that with some nice friends and iconic music, the perfect recipe for some of the most memorable four minutes in a lifetime presents itself.
Because our current society moves on so fast from phenomena, this might be forgotten quickly, but no one will ever forget how looking at the sky today made them feel.
McGlauthon Fleming IV is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International.
