Mother Nature seemed to enjoy toying with us last Thursday; not that she doesn't all the time, but I reference the touted solar eclipse that was visible for Eagle Observer area readers. At least it was supposed to be visible. I can't remember the last time we had a solar eclipse that could be observed locally. Somewhere I read the year was 1994.
That really doesn't matter. What mattered Thursday was that locals could look skyward and see a slice taken out of the sun. Not so. It wasn't supposed to happen. Mother Nature had her own venue called clouds. And she used them with wild abandon, taunting and teasing the sky watchers in mid-afternoon as the rain and clouds of Thursday morning were peeled back and old Sol beamed in the southwestern sky.
It was then the curtain raised on a new act -- make that the curtain of clouds lowered. 'Clipse watchers were taunted as bright rays showed intermittently until the prescribed witching hour -- 4:41 p.m. -- when the real show was scheduled to begin.
Almost to the 4:41 minute the clouds thickened, darkened and settled in for the long haul. At least until five o'clock. It was then a hole opened and a blinding ray of the sun signaled, "Enjoy the show!" Not so. Moments later the clouds again darkened while a clear strip of clouds brightened in the west. Talk about teasing. It was almost an hour later old Sol again showed his face; pocked with a sun spot and diminishing slice of black, eyes finally were able to feast during the waning minutes of the production.
Hopefully, sun watchers used prescribed safeguards and didn't stare directly at the sun. We had been warned that eye damage could result. Perhaps the entire production was programmed for the curtain of clouds to help protect and safeguard eyesight.
Eclipse watchers can enjoy satisfaction that lunar eclipses occur more often. Check the almanac to see if one is scheduled during the next several months and plan to enjoy watching as the Man in the Moon disappears for a time. Also take satisfaction in realizing a total eclipse of the sun, which is rarely visible locally, is expected to occur a few years from now, 2017, if I remember correctly. Plan now for that big day. Without clouds. But remember Mom Nature could again play her devilish hand.
Now a shifting of gears for a few comments about the big, big news of the year: the mid-term election with all its negativity. The entire nation will breathe a collective sigh of relief when the votes are all counted and a spirit of so-called normalcy can return. If that is ever possible.
The election this year holds special interest for Gravette citizens as they realize Asa Hutchinson, one of the candidates for Governor, is a Gravette native. He has served the country in so many ways during the past. It will certainly be great to be able to say Hope is not the only small town in the state that can produce an Arkansas First Family. Go get 'em, Asa. And never look back!
Dodie Evans is editor emeritus of the Gravette News Herald.
Community on 10/29/2014