They’re called UAPs now. But this is about the University of Oregon campus and it’s JSMA Museum of Art and not about aliens. Although who knows what lurks behind many of educational institutions.

I tried to chase the annular eclipse that fateful October 14th morning. And I wrote a few things in the back of a book while waiting to see it. I was parked on some hillside east of Eugene Oregon. I had come south from Portland hoping to see the more total eclipse. I left early that morning with no plan other than to get to Eugene, see how long I had left, and try and find a high spot free from cloud cover. It was an interesting adventure. Sight chasing. It was like hunting. Except instead of keeping your eyes scanning the brush line, I was constantly scanning for lights in the sky. So kind of like UFO hunting I guess. Or better yet, balloon chasing like in the southwest US. I found a good spot. A pretty spot. And in bad penmanship I jotted these thoughts (unedited, even for spelling. As it should be) :

8:15am

I sit, overlooking a clearing, waiting for the sun to extinguish.

Today, an annuallar eclipse, I have gambled much inorder for the chance to see it.

I fight hours of travel, an unknown destination, cloud, fog, hill, tree, and anything that isn’t sky.

Will this Journey and self inflicted stress all over a cosmic happenstance be worth it? Like my life, without consequence and greater meaning. I wait and see if something spectacular comes of it.

8:30am

The clouds have called in. There is still some hope, but looking before me, I see nothing but grow.

For a few moments though, there was a glorious clear horizon. The beautiful valley with its “award winning Xmas trees”, the calls of insects and birds, a view I would have never seen had I not tried. I tried. I tried damnit. In the end it was all the same. Could’ve stayed home. Could be asleep. But rather, I tried. And when I look back I do see what could’ve been and my effort to attain it. Even if it was impossible. I would have regretted staying home more than anything this little trial has cost me.

I hope when the skies of my life turn grey, even if I hoped for more, or it was about to get good, I can still say

I tried.

So take that home with you. Then two locals to that little country road said I was somewhere ‘private’. So I packed up and left, I wasn’t going to see squat with the clouds. Not yet disappointed and headed back to Eugene to spend the day. See the city. Then as I’m hunting for a breakfast spot I see people on the street rubber necking and looking up. I turn while driving and there it is. A ring of light through the clouds. That pissed me off. I probably could’ve stayed at my spot a little longer but nasa.com said the eclipse started at 8am and was over by 9am. Not started at 9:15am. Maybe if the internet was usable. And you could look something up and get information and not so many advertisements you can’t see the web page. I guess I did get to see it after all.

I decided upon a place called Studio One Café. I got there and there was no parking for miles, groups of people waiting outside, a list to put your name on, and the building was obviously a house converted into a restaurant. All the makings of a good place. I don’t think the Boomer mind could fathom such a place. But I was in a university town. A place I belong. Bury me in a university town.

And many people apparently are. After some mediocre, over priced, bad serviced, food, I found myself only 15 minutes walk from the desired museum. That’s right boomers. A walk. Through the student apartments and frat houses, the University of Oregon has a nice cemetery next to the stadium. Track town they call it, for the track team you see. But the campus is very pretty and laid out very favorably for the campus biker, jogger, and walker with many branching pathways. Everything is green and mossed and treed and bushes. The buildings are old and sturdy stone and brick. It gave my hometown college a run for its money in terms of look and feel. I found my way to the art museum and paid my $5 entry fee.

I thought I’d share my thoughts and some things I wrote down during my art visit. But no. I don’t think I will. You’ve read this all for nothing. Sucker