A Brief Post on Perseids and the Solar Eclipse

Life can be precarious. I know this especially in the ‘A’ months of April and August, when I’ve experienced my deepest personal losses.

Maybe this is why, at the sound of sirens this morning, I was transported to Newfoundland in 2024, a time when I was privy to another family’s sudden loss. I had already been thinking about the annual Perseids meteor shower: about the times I’ve watched from the suburbs of Pittsburgh, from a KOA campground in my twenties, along the Bay of Fundy, and twice in Newfoundland.

The 2024 Newfoundland viewing that I’m thinking about occurred after a crash on the Trans-Canada Highway. Kathi and I were heading to Gros Morne National Park that evening and encountered a traffic back up. There was a fatal accident. Car v. cyclist. It was the cyclist whose life was lost that August evening. Hundreds of people would cut their engines and wait for the scene to be cleared (it would be a few hours). We would get out of our cars and make small talk. Watch dusk slip into twilight and then night.

And then the meteors gave us a show in this pitch dark place.

It was spectacular. And our hearts were heavy.

This might not have been the Perseids post you were hoping for. Here’s one I wrote in 2014 about a happier viewing. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read it.

Speaking of celestial events, there’s going to be a solar eclipse today! Friends of mine are in Spain to experience totality. I admire their wanderlust. Maybe those of you in Canada will be out this afternoon to see the partial eclipse? Let me know about your experience! For those who want to remember the 2024 eclipse, here’s a post I wrote then. It’s followed by a trip report from my visit to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, so don’t let the title confuse you.

Two things:

1. I’m getting ready to close my Big Boy Experience Survey. If you saw the Big Boy locomotive this summer, please take a few minutes to fill out the survey. Thanks!

2. Here are my photos from the 2024 Newfoundland trip.