Nose for News, By Sarah Stultz

I’ll admit it. I didn’t really get into the craze surrounding the solar eclipse before the big event Monday, but as the time drew closer to when it was supposed to be happening, a little part of me wished I had.

I remember reading the story one of our reporters wrote in June about Albert Lea High School teacher Ken Fiscus and his goal to get the word out about the eclipse. Fiscus, an astronomy enthusiast, had plans to travel to Pawnee County, Nebraska, where the total solar eclipse would be visible. I remember thinking how awesome it was that he was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about this event and that he was taking off the first day of school for it. He had witnessed two total eclipses before and was eager to see another part of history.

While he had been preparing for this for months — if not years — I didn’t think much about it after that until last week.

I was at the Albert Lea Public Library with some of my out-of-town family members, and I saw a sign for eclipse glasses. The thought passed through my head that I was impressed to see those available at our local library, but I didn’t think twice about stopping and picking some up until Saturday when I started seeing more and more being published about it on social media. By that time, the library was already out of the glasses, and I could only wish I had.

On Sunday, I was at my mother-in-law’s house and she was asking me if knew how to make homemade solar eclipse glasses out of a box. I kept hearing more and more through social media about people’s plans on Sunday night and Monday morning. Several friends of mine from college live in states where they should have been able to see much more than here or were planning to travel there for the day.

I wasn’t too hopeful that we would actually be able to see the eclipse here until I woke up Monday, came to work and then went to my Albert Lea Noon Kiwanis Club. When I walked in, the sun was shining, and I was hopeful that somehow I could quickly make something to protect my eyes when my meeting was over and spend a few minutes checking it out before going back to work.

However, then as I was in my Kiwanis meeting, I noticed it was starting to get darker outside. I wondered if it was due to the eclipse or from clouds and an impending storm.

When I walked outside the American Legion Club where we have the meeting, it seemed like it was a little bit darker but it was very still outside. I even commented on how quiet things were, but it only looked like it was cloudy.

A little while after I got back to work it started raining, and it continues to rain as I write this.

The question I have for all of you is did you see anything in that time from noon to 1 p.m. when I was in my meeting? I’m curious. Send me an email or give me a call if you did.

Those of you who went out of state to view this eclipse, I hope your weather cooperated better.

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune.