So let me tell you about my week…
Ok, maybe not. Suffice it to say that two feet of spring snow derailed all carefully laid eclipse-viewing plans, another tree in the jungle has toppled into a rather unsafe position requiring immediate and probably expensive attention, there have been too many hours without power and frozen food is not so frozen anymore, my neighbor’s snow blower choked on a rock and died in the middle of the storm, two cars have been totaled one of which happened to a rental three hours away from home … and I got a promotion, one that will allow me to work in my own town again. And for the first time in my life, I will be doing One Job and will have very little contact with the germy world beyond my office. Also, the nightshades are germinating and sending tiny shoots into the artificial daylight in the basement.
It has been an emotional time; and while it’s not all bad, it is all very exhausting.
I need a sabbatical.
For the rest of the month, I am going to write poetry and maybe a bit of other stuff here and there, but nothing regular. I do apologize. But I sat down to write about the eclipse… and could think of nothing I wanted to say. There is so much said already, seems pointless.
Still… it is a neat thing. So here is a link to an interactive map of totality. If you can find your way to one of these places, I would highly recommend going. If not, it is streaming six ways to Sunday, I am sure. Though nothing really compares to live totality shimmering all around you.
Being smack dab under the path of darkness, my town is having a party. My sons and I will probably stroll down for a bit of food cart noshing. But my front yard, if mostly cleared of snow, will be perfect viewing. So I think we’ll be out there with funny glasses and things with circular holes to project the sun’s shape shifting. Probably be a bit of photography, knowing my boys…
Have an inspiring eclipse! Or just a fantastic day!
©Elizabeth Anker 2024
By My Solitary Hearth 
Eliza, you were not bred to endure that kind of weather. New Mexico must be nice in early April. How about a little Emily?
It will be Summer — eventually.
by Emily Dickinson
It will be Summer — eventually.
Ladies — with parasols —
Sauntering Gentlemen — with Canes
And little Girls — with Dolls —
Will tint the pallid landscape —
As ’twere a bright Bouquet —
Tho’ drifted deep, in Parian —
The Village lies — today —
The Lilacs — bending many a year —
Will sway with purple load —
The Bees — will not despise the tune —
Their Forefathers — have hummed —
The Wild Rose — redden in the Bog —
The Aster — on the Hill
Her everlasting fashion — set —
And Covenant Gentians — frill —
Till Summer folds her miracle —
As Women — do — their Gown —
Or Priests — adjust the Symbols —
When Sacrament — is done —
“It will be Summer—eventually” (#342) by Emily Dickinson, from The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson.
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I feel this Summer—eventually thing…
I can endure all sorts of weather. But I am tired. And it’s not just me. Native Vermonters are saying things like “I’ve never seen anything like this in 75 years of living.”… Maybe hyperbole, but it does make me feel like less of a weather wimp.
As to New Mexico in April. It can be nice… it is more often very windy and dry and bordering on hot — but still dropping to freezing many nights. So, a different kind of endurance test. Still, with supplementary watering (dumping the bucket of shower warm-up water on the bed), I was able to harvest peas in April in Albuquerque. I haven’t even been able to plant them here yet.
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I can empathise with you. You probably need a sabbatical from the weather more than from work. Nonetheless, congratulations on your promotion!
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It was more the drive they had me on. After the flood, I was moved to a branch that is 40 minutes away. That 80-90 minutes of driving is somehow a critical loss of time in my head… Also… it really is a hard job doing everything at once. Some days my head literally hurts from thinking.
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What a doozy of a week! I hope you enjoy your sabbatical and the eclipse party!
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