When the stars align: An Eclipse Story

"OH MY GOSH!" I gasped, my throat stuck in my chest. I repeated this over and over. "HOLY...!!" When I wasn't spouting off expletives and repeating phrases out of utter shock and amazement during totality, I was trying to breath.
  I looked at the sun, then at my camera LCD display, back at the sun, then at my boys, then my wife, then back at the sun and the sky, then to the horizon. My breath was literally taken away.

Lets back up a bit. All my life, I have been interested in all things outer-space; the sun, the moon, the planets, the stars, etc. I have very early memories of watching partial solar eclipses, lunar eclipses, meteor showers, and even camping in the desert and staring at the sky, watching satellites slipping silently between the stars. I thank my dad for sparking my interests by always waking me up to see a lunar eclipse at night, or having a telescope set up to project a partial solar eclipse for us to watch. I have always been fascinated by this stuff and my fascination has grown over the years. Now, I seize every opportunity to share these things with my boys. If I have learned one thing in my 49-years, it is to not miss a chance to experience something unique. Regret is often the result of a failure to act.

  On May 20th of 2012, In Santa Rosa, we experienced a partial annular eclipse.

05.20.2012

A mere 4 hour drive, and I could have been right in the path of this eclipse. I was upset with myself that I didn't make the drive. As cool as it was in Santa Rosa, I wanted to see the full annular eclipse. In the days that followed, I did an internet search and found that we would experience a partial annular eclipse on October 23, 2014. This one was too far to travel to, to be on the direct path but as I explored further, I discovered the August 21st, 2017 Eclipse that would pass through Oregon. I vowed that we would not miss this one.

10.23.2014

After the 2014 partial Eclipse, I revisited the internet to find the exact path through Oregon in 2017. That is when I realized that the path of totality was going through Madras, Oregon...my wife's hometown. Come hell or high water, we would be in Madras on August 21st, 2017. When I began to announce to friends and relatives that we were coming up for this total eclipse in a few years, I think they all thought that I was a bit crazy.


Fast forward a few years to 2017.

Everything fell in to place for us and we even made  a few concessions to be in Madras for this opportunity of a lifetime. We had to take the boys out of school for 3 days, after only attending their 1st day the school year. I would rather they miss a few days of school than miss something like this.

The setting was perfect. We stayed at Melanie's grandfathers estate, on the outskirts of town. We spent a couple days leading up to the eclipse visiting with family and friends, hiking the property, riding bikes, and enjoying time together as a family. Our time at the house and property was of special significance to Melanie as she had lived here herself at different times while growing up, so for her, it always feels like coming home. For Apollo and Orion, they had so many questions about the house, the property, and their great grandparents. Apollo made a comment to me one evening, "I feel like Grandpa Joe wants us to be here." I felt that too, the very moment we stepped out of the truck.

I brought all the camera gear that I figured I would need to capture the eclipse. I set my camera up and tested the lenses and filters the day before.

We were ready. 

I woke up before the sun rose on that Monday morning. I checked my gear and then sat and watched the sun rise from the back deck of the house. Owls were hooting softly in the canyon, but beyond that, it was still and quiet. I was excited and couldn't wait for the eclipse to start. Three years of planning and waiting, and today was the day. After a morning hike with Orion, I set up my cameras, had a light breakfast and then we waited.

The eclipse began as all the others that I had seen. The sun was slowly being eaten away by an unseen moon. There were no surprises at first. Once the sun was 50% covered, the sky began to be noticeably darker. The temperature began to drop and a light breeze picked up. I expected all that. Apollo and Orion were playing around close by and came over to look at the camera screen and check in with me from time to time. Once it got past 75% and became much darker, the boys stood by me staring at the sun through eclipse glasses. And then it happened. The crescent of the sun became smaller and smaller...and then vanished. It was here, in this brief moment in time, that time froze. I expected everything to go dark and the sun to be basically gone from sight with only a faint glow left to outline the moon...that's not how it happened. I can't say for sure what happened in that fraction of a second but I can tell you that it was surreal and I can tell you how it felt. It was the twist in the plot, that unexpected twist in the story that changes everything. I saw, I felt, I experienced, and I was left speechless. The darkness came, but with it, I felt a rush of energy, maybe I even felt a gust of cool air, then a flash like a strobe light. As soon as the last sliver of sun vanished, a bright radiant ring of white fire appeared in the sky. My mouth fell open and I gasped loudly. It was like being awoken abruptly from an intense dream where in those first few moments you aren't sure if you are awake or asleep and you are completely disoriented.

I was utterly unprepared for what I saw and felt. It was sensory overload on a level I have never experienced. The reason I was so taken by surprise is that, I really didn't take the photos that I had seen from other total eclipses as being genuine. By which I mean, I assumed that they were heavily photoshopped or that they were captured by using specialized cameras that pick up light not visible to the naked eye. That coupled with the media's propensity to exaggerate things and the stage was set for me to be floored...and that is exactly what happened. As to the things that I felt, they may have been my own senses compensating for the shock and emotion of what I was seeing, or maybe it was all real and part of the eclipse experience. Either way, it was real to me.

Apollo and Orion were beside me during totality. I heard Apollo say, "Whoa! That's so cool!" While Orion was giggling and saying, "WHOA!" Melanie, came up behind me and pointed out that the stars were out. She asked me, "Can you believe how cool the pictures are that you are getting?" as we both looked at my LCD display. I am not sure if I answered her or not. I do remember her and Apollo laughing at me for repeating the same thing over and over; "OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH!!"

I can say with certainty that this may be the coolest thing that I have ever seen. It is right up there with the birth of my children, my first skydive, the first time I experienced bioluminescence swimming in the ocean at night, or my first time coming face-to-face with a bat ray unexpectedly while snorkeling on Anacapa island at 12-years-old. Shock, awe, and loss of breath in that order, each and every time. The snorkeling one found me 15 feet underwater and seriously out of breath because I expelled all my air screaming when I saw a large mouth and wings coming right for me.  "AAAAAAAHHHHH!" Im not sure who was more frightened; me or that fish. I wanted to scream like that again. So impressed were we, that the boys and I are planning for the next one in the US in 2024.

The math, geometry, and science behind a total eclipse is astounding. The fact that it happened when and where it did, is a coincidence that I can't wrap my head around. Because I experienced it with Melanie, Apollo and Orion (and other family and friends), was a small miracle in itself. A miracle that can only happen when all the stars align.

Go forth and conquer the world

Another school year has come to a close. Orion has completed kindergarten and Apollo has finished up 3rd grade. The school year, although it seemed to drag on while we were in the midst of it, now that it is finished up, it seems to have screamed by. 

Orion is in the same Spanish immersion school as Apollo. Their brains soak up the new language like sponges, and it was fun watching Orion begin to learn a new language. He made a great showing for his first year, even though he had moments of self doubt, and questioned if he was smart enough, or lamenting the fact that he forgot things very easily. The fact that he is cognizant of his forgetfulness says a lot for how bright of a young man he is. Orion roles his "R's" beautifully and has done a great job at grasping the Spanish language. All though he may not agree, Orion made kindergarten seen fairly easy. Beyond doing well in his studies, his teacher often commented on his sweetness and noted that he "is a friend to everybody."  

Kindergarten is great year for kids. It's as if a flower-bud, tightly wrapped, begins to unfurl for the first time. Hesitantly, the first petal loosens up, then the next...and so on. Soon you begin to see a beauty and potential emerging that manifest in so many ways. The transition form toddler, to young boy begins and the possibilities are endless. Although, Orion likes to resist the regimented learning ways of the education system, his brain is not so easily dissuaded and the information sinks in and opens doors before he realizes what happens. At the end of the day, his charm and easy going disposition will take this kid as far as he dreams of going. He can win anyone over with his smile and his negotiation skills rival that of a seasoned professional. 

Apollo has excelled in sarcasm and theatrics this year! He may be better suited for a performing arts school than a general education school. Actually, he was born with these gifts, they just become more pronounced week after week, and year after year. Third grade was a banner year for Apollo. He has finally began to let his guard down at school and let his personality shine through to his teachers and his classmates. This year, his mathematical abilities (genius) made themselves known in a big way. His math teacher, Maestro Curiel, took an interest in Apollo's math abilities, and pushed his boundaries. In conference, we were told, after being shown a failed test of Apollo's that, "He got the answers correct, but he lost points for not following the directions and not showing his work in the way that we asked them to show it. The interesting thing is that when I asked him how he arrived at the answers, he not only defends his work vehemently, but he explains methods of doing the work that we did not teach him." I am paraphrasing a bit, but the essence of the conversation are there. His teacher said that Apollo was always one of the first kids done with math each day so he would allow Apollo to help the other kids finish their work. Maestro Cruiel said that Apollo could often explain how to solve the problems to his fellow students better than he, as the teacher could explain it himself. He told us that what he found refreshing about Apollo, was that every time they finished a section and he would announce that they were starting a new subject, i.e. long division, Apollo would be the only one to voice excitement over it, while the majority of the class would moan and groan in dismay. His final words to Apollo via his report card were; "I am extremely honored to have been Apollo's math teacher. He is a fantastic mathematician and I am delighted by his progress throughout the school year. Apollo; go forth and conquer the world!"

Orion Turns 6

There are hearts so pure that to be in the presence of its owner, you will know love, you will know warmth, you will know acceptance.

Six years ago, I held a miracle in my arms for the first time. A miracle because he was not planned. A miracle because we thought we had lost him only weeks after we found out that he was coming. I remember lying in bed holding my wife in my arms late one night, around the holidays, both of us solemn and uncertain...and silent. "It's not fair," her voice trembled, "You should never have to lose a baby once you get excited about the idea of having it," she said softly, breaking my heart with her words.

She was wrong obviously, and for once, I was glad that she was wrong. I cannot imagine life without this beautiful soul. Orion has filled our home with laughter, love, adventure and hugs...lots and lots of hugs. There is nothing better than coming home from a business trip and hearing his little feet running from the other room, his voice yelling, "Dada!", as he leaps into my arms and hugs me tightly. There is nothing that warms my heart more than watching him run and hug his brothers when they walk through the door, even after being gone for only a few hours.

Orion is our snuggler too. Whether its climbing into our bed at 2:00am, or requesting that you sit with him to watch a movie. On the rare occasion that Melanie and I actually get a chance to sit on the couch together, Orion wants to be right in the middle, between the two of us.

Rocks and shells are his favorite collectables this past year. He loves his pets; his new kitten Shredder, and Jack, his cockatiel are always close by. Everyday his face lights up when he interacts with his pets like it is still his first day with them. He might be the smallest one in the house, but he sour biggest helper.

Orion is swimming like a fish now. He plays hard. He is always on the go and often his body and brain start shutting down before he is ready to. At that point, he becomes melancholy and begins to list his grievances from the past six years. "Dada, when I was in mama's tummy, before I was born," tears welling up in his eyes, "I was bored in there too." As with everything with Orion, what would be annoying if it was any other kid, we find very endearing.

Happy sixth birthday little man. Thank you for all the wonderful laughs, memories, and hugs these first six years. You were the perfect addition to our family six years ago. I can't wait to see what adventures this year will bring.

I love you Orion!

Love Dada