An Eclipse Story, 100 Years in the Making

These were the words of my great grandfather, Magner White when he wrote about the 1923 total eclipse for the San Diego Sun that would win him a Pulitzer Prize in 1924 – “When the shadow returns, we shall not see it. We shall be with the Pala Indians of 1806. And the event will be the all-absorbing topic then to those strange creatures whom we may never meet except in our imaginations -- our children’s grandchildren.” He, of course, was talking about the next time a total eclipse would pass over San Diego, probably never imagining that his great granddaughter would be able to travel from all parts of the globe to chase an eclipse that was not in her own backyard. As we approach the 100th anniversary of his Pulitzer, I will be fulfilling his prophecy as I leave Southern California and board a plane to Dallas to be within the totality.

Growing up, tales of Magner White, a whimsical newspaper man, filled my childhood. What many people outside our family (or his fellow newsmen) didn’t know was that he wrote his article before the eclipse happened. The Sun was an afternoon newspaper meaning that the deadline for print would occur before the eclipse and he would win the Pulitzer Prize for telling a tale of his own making rather than hard-hitting reporting. Not to be deterred my great grandfather went about researching past writings on previous eclipses and wove a tale that would rivet people with its spot-on details of what happened to everything from chickens to the painted ladies of Tijuana capturing both the physical changes as well as the mystical impact on the mind. I have found that this blend of creativity and commitment to storytelling, despite the barriers, instilled in me a drive for creativity that has guided much of my career, but it wasn’t until I moved into the world of aerospace that I understood that his story of the eclipse had also driven an underlying attraction to the stars. Here, my love for writing and storytelling met my fascination with the cosmos, embodying the same spirit of exploration and wonder that my great grandfather carried in his heart.

As the day of the eclipse approaches, forecasts predict cloudy skies over Dallas, leading many to cancel their plans. Yet, my resolve stands firm. Just as Magner wrote of the eclipse without seeing it, drawing upon a deep well of research and imagination, I am prepared to embrace this event, clouds or not. His writing is guiding me in understanding the essence of such a moment transcends the visual spectacle; it's about being part of something larger than ourselves, connecting with a tradition of awe and wonder that has captivated humanity for generations.

Tomorrow, as I stand under potentially clouded skies, I will not be deterred. The weather may obscure my view, but not the significance of the moment. Like my great grandfather, who penned an account that would win him a Pulitzer without witnessing the eclipse, I too am ready to tell a great tale. Whether through the clarity of totality or the mystery of obscured skies, the story of the 2024 eclipse will be one of connection, continuity, and the enduring human spirit to reach for the stars, no matter the obstacles.

Here’s some links for those looking to learn more about my great grandfather’s account as well as those venturing to learn more about tomorrow’s eclipse:

The Greatest Eclipse that Never Happened! - Tales of Magner White and Other San Diego Eclipse Articles

·? ? ? ?From the archives: When it was midnight at midday! - reprint of Magner White's original article (a must-read!)

·? ? ? ?Hark! An Eclipse. I’ll Be Inside, Boss – 2012 article I’m quoted along with mom

·? ? ? ?Eclipse of the Sun - 2019 story on his article as fake news that isn’t harmful

·? ? ? ?San Diego reporter won a Pulitzer for account of 1923 eclipse - LA Times reprint and article on how his fellow newsman felt about the award

· ? ? ? Q&A: Watching the April 8 solar eclipse in San Diego https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2024/03/qa-watching-the-april-8-solar-eclipse-in-san-diego

· ? ? ? A solar eclipse will plunge the U.S. into darkness Monday. Here's how to see it in San Diego https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/inyourneighborhood/solar-eclipse-how-to-see-san-diego/3472316/?amp=1

Where to watch, what's for lunch and the latest in Eclipse Couture

· ? ? ? Eclipse Event Dashboard https://texasegrt.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/8263a509fcde4d5aaa6b52cdfe1663cf

· ? ? ? April 2024 total solar eclipse: Where to avoid clouds on eclipse day https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/april-2024-total-solar-eclipse-avoid-clouds-eclipse/story?id=106986025

· ? ? ? 2024's total solar eclipse will be a spectacle in the sky with more viewers than ever https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240206-how-and-why-to-watch-2024s-total-solar-eclipse

· ? ? ? TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE APRIL 8, 2024 (Where to see it) https://eclipsophile.com/2024tse/

· ? ? ? 10 Eclipse-Themed Foods Along the Path of Totality https://www.foodandwine.com/best-solar-eclipse-themed-foods-8620643

· ? ? ? SunChips will sell exclusive total solar eclipse flavors only during totality on April 8 https://www.space.com/total-solar-eclipse-sun-chips-exclusive

· ? ? ? Wear your red underwear: Solar eclipse casts light on folklore of past centuries https://triblive.com/local/regional/wear-your-red-underwear-solar-eclipse-casts-light-on-folklore-of-past-centuries/

· ? ? ? Watching the eclipse is better when you wear red or green, experts say https://www.chron.com/news/space/article/eclipse-best-colors-wear-19305934.php

· ? ? ? The Purkinje Effect: Why Scientists Say To Wear Green And Red During The Eclipse https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2024/03/28/the-purkinje-effect-why-scientists-say-to-wear-green-and-red-during-the-eclipse/amp/

Strange Happenings - How will it affect you?

· ? ? ? Texas county issues disaster declaration for solar eclipse, expects 200K people https://phys.org/news/2024-03-texas-county-issues-disaster-declaration.amp

· ? ? ? 'Everything is interrelated.' For the Navajo Nation, the April 8 solar eclipse is a spiritual experience https://www.space.com/total-solar-eclipse-2024-navajo-nation

· ? ? ? April’s Solar Eclipse Means Intense Healing for These Zodiac Signs https://www.wmagazine.com/life/april-horoscope-solar-eclipse-aries-2024

· ? ? ? How the Total Solar Eclipse Will Affect Your Mood, Based on Your Zodiac Sign https://people.com/total-solar-eclipse-2024-zodiac-sign-everything-to-know-8612697

· ? ? ? Why some will stay inside during Monday's eclipse https://www.axios.com/2024/04/07/total-solar-eclipse-meaning-beliefs-traditions

What about the Science?

· ? ? ? What Would A Solar Eclipse Look Like From The Moon? https://www.iflscience.com/what-would-a-solar-eclipse-look-like-from-the-moon-73456

· ? ? ? Was Today’s Earthquake Connected to the Solar Eclipse? https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/05/science/total-solar-eclipse-earthquake.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ik0.ScVa.lDXDG7KoX4os&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&ugrp=m&sgrp=c-cb

· ? ? ? Why NASA Will Fire Three Rockets At The Solar Eclipse https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2024/03/26/why-nasa-will-fire-three-rockets-at-the-solar-eclipse/amp/

· ? ? ? NASA will launch rockets into the total solar eclipse on April 8 https://www.space.com/nasa-sounding-rockets-april-8-solar-eclipse

· ? ? ? Beyond totality: Rare phenomena to watch out for during the solar eclipse https://www.ksl.com/article/50967819/beyond-totality-rare-phenomena-to-watch-out-for-during-the-solar-eclipse

Be safe out there!

· ? ? ? Simple tips to safely photograph the eclipse with your cellphone https://www.npr.org/sections/Solar%20Eclipse%202024/2024/04/03/1241974148/eclipse-photography-tips-cell-phone

· ? ? ? How to keep pets safe during the solar eclipse, whether at home or on the road https://www.npr.org/sections/solar-eclipse/2024/04/05/1243035831/solar-eclipse-pet-safety-tips-sunglasses

· ? ? ? Solar Eclipse Warning Issued to Pet Owners https://www.newsweek.com/solar-eclipse-warning-pet-owners-1886765

Just for fun

· ? ? ? Five reasons 2024’s solar eclipse will be better than the one in 2017 https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/03/23/solar-eclpse-2024-better-2017/

· ? ? ? The Last U.S. Total Solar Eclipse This Long Was In 1806. Its Echoes Are Still With Us https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2024/04/06/americas-last-totality-this-long-was-in-1806-it-changed-everything/amp/

· ? ? ? They were supposed to fly to Texas for the eclipse. Instead, they’ll take a road trip to Vermont. https://www.boston.com/travel/new-england-travel/2024/04/05/they-were-supposed-to-fly-to-texas-for-the-eclipse-instead-theyll-take-a-road-trip-to-vermont/?amp=1

· ? ? ? Eclipse Mania - There’s still reason to get excited, even if you’re not convinced by the hype. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/06/briefing/eclipse-mania.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ik0.M0OK.1E874V_ADW_k&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&ugrp=m&sgrp=c-cb

· ? ? ? Airbnb bookings for the solar eclipse reach astronomical levels https://www.economist.com/business/2024/04/06/airbnb-bookings-for-the-solar-eclipse-reach-astronomical-levels

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