I am right now at Mile Hi Con, in Denver.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

14. I hope you succeed in convincing them.

I have the good fortune to be old and retired, so I'm not constrained by work.

There was a total eclipse in March, 1970. I was an airline ticket agent at DCA, Washington National Airport, at that time, and was well aware of the eclipse and that I couldn't travel to where totality would be which was maybe 50 miles south of me. I have a vivid memory of waiting to take the bus to work, and noticing the odd aspect of the sun, because where I was it was a partial eclipse.

Several times in years since I've experienced partial eclipses, and one annular eclipse. Several years ago I was driving from Santa Fe to Denver, Co, and about halfway there realized I didn't need my sunglasses. Weird. There were no clouds in the sky, but the sunlight wasn't as strong as it should be. After I got to my hotel, I spoke with My Son The Astronomer who asked, "Did you see the eclipse??" Headsmack! I'd been slightly aware of it, and then totally forgot. But yeah, not needing sunglasses in the middle of the day is a clue.

Now that I have seen totality, I understand why people who can, will travel far and wide to see a total eclipse.

Turns out there will be another annular eclipse that I'll be able to see next year. Hooray!