Editorial: Eclipse brings sense of wonder, lots of traffic

SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD. WE WERE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER ANDREW ANDREW VREES. THE SOLAR ECLIPSE TURNED OUT TO BE A SPECTACLE IN THE SKY THAT TESTED OUR SENSES. AND FOR SOME OF YOU, YOUR PATIENCE AS THE PATH OF TOTALITY TRAVELED FROM OUR TROUBLED BORDER WITH MEXICO OVER RED, BLUE AND PURPLE STATES AND THEN OVER OUR HOME STATE FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN THE EARTH, THE MOON, THE SUN ALIGNED NOTHING ELSE SEEMED TO MATTER. THE ECLIPSE CREATED A SENSE OF UNITY COMMUNITY FREE OF POLITICAL DEBATES AND FREE OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES. AS TOTALITY APPROACHED, WE WERE SURPRISED THAT YOU COULD NOT ONLY SEE THE ECLIPSE, BUT ALMOST FEEL, HEAR, AND MAYBE EVEN TOUCH IT OR BE TOUCHED BY IT. THE CHANGES IN THE SKY, THE DIP IN TEMPERATURE WAS A SERENE SILENCE. WE HELPED EACH OTHER GET THE BEST VIEW AND THE PERFECT PICTURE, AND WE EXPERIENCED SOMETHING OUT OF THIS WORLD. AND IT BROUGHT US TOGETHER MORE THAN ANYTHING WE CAN REMEMBER. IT BROUGHT SOME OF YOU TOGETHER MORE THAN YOU WILL CARE TO REMEMBER. THE RIDE HOME. FOR THOSE OF YOU LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE TOTALITY WAS A TOTAL MESS. IT TOOK PEOPLE HOURS TO GET FROM BACK ROADS IN CARROLL AND COÖS COUNTIES TO 93, AND FOR SOME HOURS LONGER TO GET THROUGH FRANCONIA NOTCH. THE GOVERNOR HAD WARNED THERE WOULD BE TRAFFIC, LIKE THE GRIDLOCK ENCOUNTERED, LEAVING A PATRIOTS GAME. IT WAS FAR WORSE. STATE OFFICIALS SAY AN ADDITIONAL 54,000 VEHICLES PASSED THROUGH THE SOUTHBOUND HOOKSETT TOLLS ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY. THERE IS NO DENYING IT WAS A HEADACHE, BUT ONE DRIVER TOLD US THEY HAD JUST EXPERIENCED SOMETHING AMAZING AND WERE SIMPLY GRATEFUL WE GOT ANOTHER 50 YEARS TO PLAN FOR THE NEXT ECLIPSE. OVER NEW HAMPSHIRE. LET’S HANG ON TO THE SENSE OF UNITY FROM THIS ONE, AND HOPE THE NEXT ONE BRINGS US TOGETHER IN ALL THE RIGHT WAYS. SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO NH EDITORIA