HOME ALONE AND IT’S AMAZING!!!

The stars have aligned. (And two weeks ago the sun, the moon and the earth aligned.) The girls are at Grandma’s and Captain is at the office. I came home last night in a festive mood. I burst in the house singing,

“Happy weekend!!!”

Captain looked at me and said,

“I still have work tomorrow.”

Right. Happy weekend to ME! And let me drive you to the commuter rail.

This morning I returned to my house and skipped from the door to the coffee maker and skipped into the living room, then skipped back to the kitchen.

I now have the time/space/brain power to tell you about the solar eclipse that you are sick of hearing about.

A year ago Grandma told us she would be taking us to Vermont for the total solar eclipse.

I heard “taking us on a trip.” YAY! I let the total solar eclipse part go in one ear and out the other. Those words didn’t deter me, but also didn’t spark any interest either. Solar what? Eh. I love Vermont. See you there!

In December we were gifted solar eclipse gear. Oh right, the reason we’re going to Vermont in April.

Then the week before, a national fervor was kicking up. I was swept into the enthusiasm, although still not sure what it was all about.

The PBS Nova episode on the eclipse was fascinating, but the awe these people spoke of was hard to imagine.

I packed our eclipse shirts. RB said,

“I’m so excited to go to Grandma’s beach house!”

“Grandma is taking us to Vermont.”

“I’m so excited to go skiing!”

“We’re not going skiing. We’re going to see the total solar eclipse.”

“Oh. Is there a pool?”

“Yes.”

“YAY!

Feeling somewhat concerned about the projected crowds in Vermont, I slipped our bullet-proof shield into our backpack and reminded Captain that if we can’t run, we lie on top of our children.

Check with me for more great, can’t-wait-to-get-this-vacation-started conversations.

Burlington, Vermont was so fun! The solar eclipse people were an amazing cross section of our population: all ages, abilities, colors, sizes, but somehow united in a sort of celestial geekiness.

Never mind the eclipse, the people watching was top notch. I was on a bench between my kiddos and no one cared to move for half-an-hour. We would’ve stayed there longer if someone hadn’t said “Pizza!”

We had a fair amount of discussion about where on Lake Champlain we should watch the eclipse. We needed to get there hours ahead. As soon as we’re talking hours, I’m thinking: ‘what are the kids DOING for HOURS? And is there a bathroom?’

So solar eclipse day it was playground or bust. Morning of, I slipped on a Smartwool top to go under my solar eclipse shirt. RB saw my long underwear and shouted,

“We’re going skiing!”

By 10am on solar-eclipse day we were at an awesome park and playground on Lake Champlain with seven porta potties. That sounds like plenty, but there was never not a line.

Have you ever wondered if your kids could be happy at a playground for SIX hours? Yes. Yes they can.

As we set up our chairs, RB jumped with excitement. She said,

“I can’t wait to see the meteors!”

At least she was finally talking about the solar system and not skiing or the beach.

BB was fascinated by the eclipse progression. RB was not. For the first half hour she refused to wear the glasses, but she finally relented and got into it.

Then TOTALITY. Darkness.

For over three minutes we had our glasses off and were able to look up at the eclipse with our bare eyes. We saw the sun’s corona. It’s only visible during a total solar eclipse. It brought tears to my eyes and not because my retinas were burning up.

Then at the end of totality, as the sun was reappearing, there was the flash and what they call the diamond ring.

It was unbelievably beautiful and awe inspiring in a way that I never expected.

The whole park, the best smorgasbord of people, erupted into cheers.

At dinner in Burlington that night I asked for everyone’s favorite part of the trip. BB declared,

“Playing at the playground all day!”

RB,

“Simming!”

And the adults?

Totality!

When RB returned to pre-school she was asked to speak in front of the class about her trip to Vermont.

After days of her talking about the beach, skiing and meteor showers, I was incredulous to hear that she recounted a solar eclipse.