Since Muncie was in the path of totality, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to capture the experience of the day. A couple of things stand out about the accounts of the day that we assembled. The first is that it was a shared event. None of our diarists reported watching the moon block the sun by themselves. For most it was an opportunity to gather with family, friends, and neighbors. The second is that it was “awesome,” to borrow a term several diarists used. Here’s a quick rundown of our diarists reactions to the three minutes, forty seconds of the totality (with links in the diarist number):
A01 wondered whether it would do us any good.
A02 thought it was incredibly cool but couldn’t get a good picture.
A15 was surprised by the effect of the totality and the 360 degree sunset it created.
A23 compared it to seeing the Grand Canyon in person for the first time.
A29 captured the moment in verse.
A34 looked for suddenly visible planets in our solar system.
B35 found it to be a “transcendent experience.”
C46 teared up a bit.
F56 gushed, after enjoying a champagne and Pizza King feast
J76 enjoyed a magical experience with neighbors.
J86 joined the cheering and applause on Canan Commons.
J88 observed changes in sound during the totality as part of a national soundscape project.
J89 gained new appreciation for the power of the sun.
M01 described the moment as supernatural (and took a selfie with a patron)
M03 considered how animals, especially birds, were responding.
If you have any notes or recollections from the day, feel free to share them with us. We’re still accepting contributions at edlmiddletown@gmail.com