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Wonder in the Sky


I really wasn't that excited about the solar eclipse, but the mountains were calling me.  We went to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee,  for a few days, including August 21. Pigeon Forge was just outside the northern boundary of totality. On Monday, attempting to get a better view, we drove south from Pigeon Forge on Wears Valley Road to the Church of the Cove, a place where we have worshiped before on our mountain trips.  It is about two miles north of Townsend, and traffic was bumper to bumper on that curvy road more than two hours before the eclipse.  When we got to the church's picnic area, some of our new best friends were already there, and some came a little later.

We were from Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, and Alabama.  Some of them had guitars (could we possibly be more blessed?) and we sang every eclipse-related song we could think of--Don't let the Sun Go Down on Me, I Feel a Bad Moon Arising, etc. We ate snacks and talked and waited. It was the perfect place for viewing.

Something amazing that I wasn't expecting was the shadows of the crescent sun, dancing off just about everything.


The picnic table,


Our SUV,



My new best friend's guitar,

one of my new best friends,



and the ground. (Somebody stop me; it was just so amazing!)


 When we knew we were minutes away from the total eclipse, everyone got quiet, although the crickets and tree frogs were singing a tune.  The security lights at the church came on, and then, it happened!

We were oohing and aahing,


Cheering and tearing,


with our mouths hanging open in wonder.


 The best diamond ring EVER!!!

This sweet family is from Maryland.  They drove all night Sunday and Monday morning to make it in time--I'm so happy we got to share this event with them!


This experience bonded us together.  We may never see each other again, but we won't forget this day.

On April 8, 2024, there will be another total eclipse in the United States, and the 100% totality lines include Little Rock and Dallas, totally do-able for us here in NW Alabama.  I cannot guarantee I will be here in almost seven years, but I'm saving my glasses, just in case.


When I consider thy heavens, the work
 of thy fingers, the moon and the stars,
 which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of 
him? and the son of man, that thou 
visitest him?  Psalm 8:3-4
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