The last time April 8 rolled around on the calendar, Texas was blanketed in darkness in the middle of the day thanks to the stunning total solar eclipse.
Right! That was a year ago.
But a year ago, the markets, while not the strongest they’ve ever been, were not in a tariff-induced crisis. A year ago, Colin Allred was a budding Democratic star. A year ago, the Dallas Cowboys had a head coach we had heard of before, not that we were thrilled he was still the coach. A year ago, Southwest Airlines still had its beloved “two bags fly free” policy for all customers intact. A year ago, the thought of the Mavericks getting rid of Luka Doncic was nothing short of treasonous. To be fair, it still is.
But before all the media buzz about these significant events took center stage, the April eclipse kept our attention focused for weeks beforehand, not unlike a presidential election often does. Some schools canceled classes for the day, while most of us fretted over how the weather might keep us from viewing the eclipse clearly. The national media even told people which parts of North Texas to avoid to get a proper view.
A few of us from the Observer scattered out to see how people were taking in the eclipse. A few hours before the moon would completely block our view of the sun, eclipse enthusiasts from all over the country were landing at Love Field and standing in line at rental car counters, hoping they wouldn't miss the eclipse viewing event they were going to.
Main Street Garden Park in downtown Dallas was packed with people from Houston, Los Angeles and elsewhere who had arrived early to throw a blanket down and commune with other folks in town to enjoy something that would not happen for some 300 more years around these parts.
A year after the total solar eclipse, perhaps it's easy to forget how special that event was. But a pair of twins from California hanging out on Main Street that day said something to us that we try to keep in mind when the headlines feel a bit too heavy.
“It’s a chaotic time in the universe, right? It’s nice for everybody to come together for something beautiful,” Alex said. His sister Ariel added: “It’s just science and nature and you can’t deny that. Like, everyone can agree that it’s the sun and it’s amazing.”
Check out our favorite pics from that day:
Downton Dallas was filled with people ready to ruin their eyeballs for the solar eclipse.
Carly May Gravley
