A Week of Nature's Power

It has been a while since I have blogged. It is not that I have not done things, more that there has been little time to put my thoughts on paper. I have recently seen my niece’s son’s 5th grade play and a few weeks ago did an age-experienced type Olympics that was not so good. More about them (perhaps) in future blogs. 

Today I want to blog about Mother Nature.

In a week filled with celestial wonders and earth-shaking events, Mother Nature's grandeur captivated our attention, reminding us of her power and beauty. From the rumbling of an epicenter earthquake in New Jersey to the blackened skies of Vermont, her manifestations remind us how things can change so quickly.

On April 5th, the ground beneath New Jersey trembled as a magnitude 4.8 earthquake reverberated through the tri-state region. I was upstairs when I felt the movement. I immediately knew it was an earthquake, remember back in 2011 being in, what used to be called the Carbide Building, when the Virginia 5.8 quake hit the eastern US. The building, built on sway bar pillars, swayed enough that a few people fell.

The largest known New England earthquakes occurred in 1638 (magnitude 6.5) in Vermont or New Hampshire, and in 1755 (magnitude 5.8) offshore from Cape Ann northeast of Boston. But there have been relatively few earthquakes centered in Connecticut over the last 100 years. There was a 3.1 centered near East Haven in 1980, a 3.0 near Moodus two years later, a 3.3 on the Eastern border of the state in 2015. But you never know!

Fortunately, this Jersey quake, unlike the April 3 Taiwan quake, had little damage and no deaths. Most of us ended up asking friends “did you feel that?” With that here are a couple of Twitter (I mean X) meme’s of the NJ quake.

Just three days later, on April 8th, a total solar eclipse crossed North America Monday with parts of 15 U.S. states within the path of totality. I was in Vermont, against the backdrop of the Green Mountain staying with friends at their home. You can only plan so much for an eclipse. You can make your own playlist (see mine below), bring several layers of clothing because you can squeeze them in car, bring food, snacks, the cool looking cardboard solar glasses, camera equipment and other gear, but you can’t know the weather at that exact moment of the total eclipse. A few days earlier, my friend had over 18” of fresh snow. Springtime in Vermont 😀.

A friend told me his son went to Syracuse to view the eclipse and it was cloudy. I initially planned to go to Austin where my cousin is but stayed local. My cousin told me it was cloudy. The weather on eclipse day in Vermont was……. Perfect! The photos are not mine, but instead some of those posted by others that are just lots more interesting. Next total solar eclipse in Connecticut is in 2079. Oh well!

And let’s not forget the total blitz of the basketball game that evening by the UConn men post-eclipse. Back-to-back championships! Connecticut and UConn grad proud! And the women played so well getting to the Final-4 with so many injuries this year. They are always amazing. Go Huskies!

As we marvel at these natural phenomena, we are reminded of the importance of preserving and protecting our planet. Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22nd, serves as a global call to action, urging individuals and communities to take responsibility for the health of our environment.

As we reflect on the earthquake in New Jersey, the eclipse in Vermont, and the upcoming Earth Day, let us recommit ourselves to stewardship and reverence for the planet we call home. For in the delicate balance of ecosystems and the majesty of the cosmos, we find both the fragility and the resilience of life on Earth.

My VT Eclipse Playlist

You’re So Vain – Carly Simon

Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler

Steal My Sunshine – LEN

Eclipse – Pink Floyd

Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra

Talking to the Moon – Chris Staples

Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers

Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles

Blinded by the Light – Bruce Springsteen

Sundown – Bruce Springsteen

Texas Hold ‘Em -Beyonce

The last two have nothing to do with an eclipse, but it’s my playlist, so they were added.

Paul 4/12/2024