It’s cool, bright and sunny here this morning. Around 3:30 this afternoon, we will step outside our house and watch the moon eat the sun. We should experience 2 minutes and 47 seconds of totality here. I bought viewing glasses months ago, signed up to do some citizen science, and now just have to wait for this once-in-many-lifetimes event.
If what I heard on CBC is true and a total solar eclipse only happens in a specific location on average every 375 years, the last time a total solar eclipse occurred where we live would have been around 1650, and this land would be have been covered by an ancient forest: beautiful tall white pine, red oak, birch, maple, spruce. The red squirrels, chickadees, blue jays, crows and ravens we see here year-round would be flying and running around, perhaps joined by a now-extirpated species, the black bear. My ancestors were still all in the UK, 100 years from even thinking about heading west, so maybe a Mi’kmaq family were on the river fishing when early night came and went.
When bidden, Perplexity “curated” a playlist for the event, but left off some obvious (to my human brain anyway) choices: Moonlight Sonata, Claire de Lune, Here Comes The Sun. And, of course, You’re So Vain, with its line about some pompous fella taking his Learjet to Nova Scotia to see the 1972 solar eclipse. Did you know Carly Simon’s daughter, Sally, now lives in Halifax? The media has truly covered every angle under the sun.
We won’t be blasting music here, but will instead watch and listen to how the birds and animals around us respond. I’m going to let our little flock of hens run around the yard and watch them head back to the safety of their coop as it starts to get dark, then wait to see if they reemerge after their shortest night ever. I will report.
For a total solar eclipse, Perplexity suggests:
- “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler
- “Blinded by the Light” by Bruce Springsteen
- “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd
- “Solar Eclipse” by YoungBoy Never Broke Again
- “Moon at the Window” by Joni Mitchell
- “Blue Moon” by Billie Holiday
- “Starman” by David Bowie
- “Space is the Place” by Sun Ra
- “Eclipse” by Earl Sweatshirt
- “Moonlight” by Jay-Z and Kali Uchis
- “Seven” by Taylor Swift
- “Moonshadow” by Cat Stevens
- “The Moon and the Sky” by Sade
- “Eclipse” by JACE Carrillo and Alyko
- “La Noche de Anoche” by Bad Bunny and Rosalía
- “Eclipse” by LOONA’s Kim Lip
- “Eclipse” by GOT 7
- “Eclipse” by MAMAMOO’s Moonbyul
- “Eclipse” by Pink Floyd
- “Gravity” by John Mayer