For readers far away from the path of totality for the upcoming solar eclipse, my apologies, but as a Montrealer, I will be getting one minute in the full shade of the sun on Monday, April 8. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I am excited to the point of losing sleep. It inspired me to write this extended piece in the Montreal Gazette: Totally Stoked About Totality.
Totality will occur at 3:27 p.m. for Montrealers. But as we are on the northern edge, it will be shorter than those along the middle of the path by a couple of minutes. Still, one moment would be sufficient to sear the event in my memory.
I was inspired to write the piece by a colleague of mine and my feeling that the average person is not as psyched as they ought to be. The one message I want to convey to anyone that has an easy opportunity to enter totality is this: DO IT! The worst case scenario is that this few minute commitment does not rock your world, but in all likelihood, it will be unforgettable, and more so if you experience it with loved ones.
*** Remember to protect your eyes. Wear eclipse viewing glasses whenever looking directly at the sun, with one exception: the brief minute of totality. You must remove them during the big moment or you'll miss it.
