Eclipsing the Ordinary

Sometimes everything works out just right. This time, it was yesterday’s total eclipse.

I’ve been looking forward to this event for years — as my essay in this month’s Cleveland Magazine reveals — but anticipation doesn’t always lead to payoff. It’s easy to get pessimistic about things both large and small. I don’t have to tell you that.

But sometimes, everything works out just right. The weather is warmer and sunnier than expected, a short sleeves kind of day. Spring is gloriously blooming. You’re with people you love. And on top of that, there’s a once-in-a-lifetime cosmic event happening right in your neighborhood. It’s hard to describe the involuntary gasp of awe when you take off the glasses for that first look at totality: what was really cool a moment earlier (99% eclipse) is now breathtaking (100% eclipse).

I’m not going to share a photo of the eclipse because 1) my pics would stink, and 2) you’ve probably seen plenty of great ones. Instead, here’s another bit of perfect beauty I saw yesterday. Just a daffodil. Imagine if these bloomed only once every few hundred years. We’d be blown away. I’ll probably never see another total eclipse, but I’ll see many lovely little miracles like this daffodil. The trick is noticing them. I’m going to try.

Warmly,

Sharon