I first heard about Monday’s total solar eclipse a couple years ago.
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I first heard about Monday’s total solar eclipse a couple years ago. I had a coworker who was particularly excited about the event. At that time it seemed so far away, I pushed it to the back of my mind.
Before I knew it, it was 2017 and the whole county was talking about the impending eclipse. Meetings, from town council to those dedicated solely to the event, buzzed about the number of people who were likely to descend upon our state and the issues we might have in dealing with a population explosion.
I wasn’t sure whether to expect thousands of people, or if it was all worst-case scenario talk. Rumors tend to take on a life of their own in small communities, so I approach most hard-to-believe facts skeptically. Overblown unless proven otherwise.
For the most part, however, we did see a huge population influx – although perhaps not to the crazy extent some feared, or hoped, based on the amount of signs and social media posts advertising camping and, conversely, the vehicles and fencing blocking off driveways and parking lots.
Throughout the weekend, I think a lot of people were beginning to doubt the estimated number of visitors. Special eclipse events ahead of Monday were well attended, but not chockfull of out-of-towners. The roads were slightly busier, but not gridlocked, and grocery store shelves and gas pumps remained stocked.
Late Sunday into Monday, however, everything changed.