I had no idea that today is a solar eclipse, and it’s crazy that I did not know about it. It’s not that I’ve been a slacker or overly focused on self or materialistic things. And I promise you that I’ll not publicly beat myself up or launch into an overly emotional or self-analytical throw up in blog form. That would be too self-absorbed. I’m just exposing my mind fart as a symbolic reference to the distractions of modern living, and as a sign to us all in encouraging a slow down to smell the roses.

How do I come to know of the eclipse? In steps today’s friends, dating couple Kelly and Mike, of whom I run into through stopping at a park where a curious group of people are gathering to observe moons passing in front of the sun.

And with this theme, Mike departs a relevant link in his advice to us. “Make sure you pay attention to the beautiful things in the world, and in the solar system. Nature is beautiful and there are things happening all the time… too many of us get too busy and don’t notice at all.

This is a couple of times in a lifetime event and I think most people don’t know it is happening.”

I missed the eclipse memo, and lucky for me Mike has brought me up to speed.

Kelly shares, “Make sure to take time for yourself and your family, because life is too short… it really goes by fast, and you lose people in your life pretty quickly. We need to realize this before it’s too late and they’re gone, leaving you with regret after they’re gone. So take time, life is not about your job… money… life is about friendship and family… taking time for yourself.

I’ve learned this in the last few years.

I’m still a work in progress. I literally made my job my life, it was my friendships, it was where I socialized, it was the money, and it was all I lived and breathed… the job.

It was that way until I had to deal with other things in my life happening, till it took me down, and once it took me down it really took me down. I’m still in that kind of career, but I’ll never have the kind of drive or tenacity again… like I had before, it will never be the same… I don’t want it to be… I never want to be that person ever again… Never.”

“Do you have a hope for what’s to come for the people?” I inquire of Kelly.

“I hope that our economy bounces back and that we all can have nice lives again and not have to worry about if we are going to have social security money when we retire, or if we are going to have to work until the day we die.”

Mike cues in, “I hope that people can come together and get beyond the petty difference that we often have as a focal point in our daily lives, and that they can focus instead on the fact that we are all part of humanity.

When disaster strikes we all seem to pull together. It would be nice if we could do that all the time.”

Kelly, “’I’m from Buffalo, New York… Everybody says hi there, everybody nods and says how you doing…! Let me get the door for you…! Everybody! That’s why it’s called ‘The City Of Neighbors.’”

Today there is no disaster, no contempt, nor any class distinction. Gathered is a diverse group of park goers, all with one unified intent in witnessing a magical moment of solar cycles.

And to close lets pick from Mike’s quote, “It would be nice if we could do this all the time.”

Kelly, Mike, thank you for you’re input, good to be able to call you neighbors.