Eclipse, a new grandchild and sundried laundry: April is for new beginnings

Spring arrives every year with promises similar to a box of laundry detergent.

Splashed across the container the usual wording, 22 extra winter days, more gray, more frosty nights and April showers all included at no extra cost. But the first week of April wasn’t a concern. All eyes, literally were on eclipse Monday.

Divine intervention started early for our family that weekend. Our first grandchild arrived on Saturday, a bit behind schedule, but the little lad had time to settle in ahead of the eclipse. Monday dawned without a cloud in the sky and the promise of 60 degrees for the new grandparents. It was spring fever like I haven’t felt in years, plus, I had the day off. No sleeping in, a time of new beginnings. First up, line drying the wash. The bed linens joined the rest of the laundry run and were on the clothesline by 9 a.m.

The moon was the big star of the day for shadow-making, but my laundry line presented an interesting shadow display when seen from just the right angle, an eclipse warm up photo shoot. Time flew and suddenly it was the moon and sun tango show. My wife and I took to our front yard viewing spots with Popsicles and solar glasses. Near totality it cooled off. A trip inside for a jacket revealed prime viewing through our bedroom skylight. The solar show moved to the comfort of bed. Pillows provided correct viewing angles for the remainder of the event.

The fresh crisp laundry returned indoors, bringing along the scent of spring. Later our grandchild got his first chance to meet the grandparents and his new aunt. As the camera man, I hung back to photograph. The little guy performed like a champ taken up delicately in the arms of his new kin. Grandpa finally settled into a chair for his first meeting. I am quite sure he had no idea I had taken many photos of him, a most willing subject. Hopefully that holds.

Swaddled up in his blanket (I still don’t know how the nurses do that) we locked eyes for a long time. I’m not sure what he thought of the old guy with just a little more hair than him. But I know the wonderment I was feeling, looking straight into the eyes of the future. Our silent conversation ended as he fell asleep in my arms. I was ready to nod off, it was almost Gramp’s bedtime too.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Photo Shoot: April's new beginnings