Once in a Lifetime

Ever since our solar system project, Isaac has taken a huge interest in knowing all about the planets and the solar system. So when I heard about today’s big event, I knew I just had to take him to see it. For those of you who may not know, today Venus crossed in front of the sun. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but when you add in the fact that this is something that won’t happen again until 2117 it becomes a once in a lifetime event that I really wanted myself and my boys to see.
Daddy had a work function tonight (and is totally bummed that he missed out), but Isaac, Lucas and I ventured downtown with Lynn and Kathryn (our neighbors) to look through the special telescopes that the museum had set up on top of a parking deck for viewing the big event. I was surprised at the number of people there and the lack of an organized plan, but I managed to get us right at the front of the line (always a good thing with little ones) for one of the telescopes.
Isaac taking in the view…

Lucas’ turn (although I doubt he saw much more than the eyepiece)…

I’ll be honest, the view through the telescope while pretty cool in the big scheme of things was not life altering or the most majestic thing ever. It was pretty much the sun, turned white by the special filter, with a round black dot (Venus) on it. But again, for me it’s the fact that the boys and I experienced a once in a lifetime event together. One day they can tell their kids and grandkids…“this picture is from the day that Venus crossed in front of the Sun”….and maybe those kids will be as excited about the story as Isaac was about the real event today.