A skywatcher in Addison takes a photo of the eclipse at totality on Monday afternoon.
Independent photo/Marin Howell

There’s an old saying that is popular in, but hardly unique to, the state of Vermont: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This adage can be applied to anything from old cars to elections for county prosecutors.

It also applied to our decision to viewing the total eclipse. Our deck overlooks the Middlebury Rec Park, home to annual fireworks displays on Independence Day and New Year’s Eve. What better place to watch another display in the sky?

As bonuses, there was music playing, kids happily running around the park, and announcers periodically counting down the time to totality. One guy was especially excited. The eclipse totally had a hype man.

So, we had no traffic to fight through, and no fuss to watch. When the appointed hour arrived I just had to put down the laptop, stop writing about Panther softball, and put on the fancy green 802 shades to view the twice-in-a-lifetime event.

Did I saw twice? In 1962 in Massachusetts I saw my first totality. Unlike this one, for which you kids had all the modern gewgaws like those special Devo glasses, back in my day we had cardboard-box viewing contraptions held together with string, Wrigley’s and Duck Tape that we made in our Cub Scout Troops.

Anyway, however and wherever you watched, we hope you all enjoyed the celestial fireworks.

The cheering crowd at the rec park sure did, and so did we.

A family sits back and relaxes during the solar eclipse at Middlebury’s Rec Park on Monday.
Independent photo/Steve James

Neon McCarthy of Salisbury gawks with Mavis and Gehrig at the developing solar eclipse on the Swift House Inn lawn in Middlebury Monday afternoon.
Independent photo/Steve James