You had to be “Tommy” in The Who’s brilliant rock opera of the same name to miss the near total eclipse of the sun in New York City. But I did. And it was right outside my window—the eerie yet beautiful luminescent gray lingered for a moment, which I briefly saw out of the corner of my eye. While everyone I knew was out on the streets or the tops of buildings, most wearing official or makeshift glasses, staring up at the heavens, I was consumed by the blue light of my computer screen, attempting to write a Daily Heller post about the eclipse and how the universe as a whole should win lifetime achievement awards for interactive design.
I had put it on my desk calendar, but it was covered by paper. I neglected to set a reminder on my cell phone, so there was no ping. However, you’d think, I thought, that since bells and whistles were blaring after the minor earthquake last Friday, cellular providers would have provided similar cosmic event signals. As it turns out, I did not feel the earthquake, either, although my Zoom-mate at the moment it occurred was noticeably jolted. Feeling, as she described it, that a train was rumbling under her feet, she asked, “Did you feel that!?”
“Nope,” I said, ready to continue our conversation. After the call, I learned what had occurred.
I was napping during the eclipse in 2017, and can’t believe I missed another natural wonder. I can’t believe I missed another natural wonder. Now, I’ll have to wait until 2044 for the next one passing the continental U.S., and the next New York state total eclipse will not occur until 2079. Thankfully, I can see reruns of this year’s on Instagram. But social media is not the same as being there. And how can I be certain it’s true?!
