For weeks the nation has scrambled to prepare for a two-minute occurrence. Glasses were bought, hotels were booked, and safety advice was harped on.

I heard more than a few teenage grumblings about the eclipse being no big deal, and at least one person told me it wasn’t even going to be worth it to look up.

Finally, today just minutes before the eclipse my dad bounded out of the house sporting the mirrored solar-shades he bought in preparation – my brother and I trailed behind holding our own pairs. No one in my family had seen a total eclipse before, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

My dad fretted over the approaching storm while my brother sprawled out on a lawn chair and tried to snap pictures through the lens of his solar glasses. Dad babbled excitedly as the minutes ticked by and the sun disappeared sliver by sliver.  His excitement outmatched that of my brother and I significantly, the man could hardly sit down. He wondered if we’d be able to see the stars and how dark it would get, and did we see how the light was already slipping away?

Neighbors trickled out into the streets as it neared 2:40 PM. Entire families gathered in their own funny looking sunglasses. The light shifted slowly at first, and then as quickly as if someone were dimming their phone screen.

The storm drew closer, rolling thunder and lightning became a fitting backdrop for our near palpable anticipation.

Finally, totality arrived. The streets fell silent for a long moment.

Then, the world exhaled.

People cheered, fireworks were set off in the distance. There was something utterly human about such excitement over something so rare but ultimately inconsequential.

We did not see the stars. There were no lasting effects. The period of darkness dissipated as quickly as it had arrived. With the light’s return came the sound of birds as if they’d never left. Everyone eventually went back inside.

But for two full minutes my family, my neighbors, and countless others across the nation stopped in our tracks to admire the event, all joined together by some unspoken awe.

And it was worth it.