Eclipsing Thoughts

A Beaver and a Buffalo were traveling together on their way to a large community gathering to celebrate the upcoming solar eclipse. A solar eclipse was always a very big deal in the Forest. It was what the community deemed a “Pondering Event” and marked a moment where everyone could come together and wonder about the nature of life and how we are all living it.

“Do you know what you’re going to think about this year?” Barry, the Beaver, asked the Buffalo.

“I hadn’t really thought about it yet,” replied Ruffalo, the Buffalo, “I figured I’d just let my mind think about whatever it wanted to think about when the eclipse is happening.”

“I tried that one year,” Barry replied, “It’s dangerous to do. One year I just kept pondering what I wanted to have for dinner that night and never really thought about anything else.”

“Well, what did you end up having for dinner that year?” Asked Ruffalo, curious.

“Beats me,” Barry replied, “But that’s kind of my point.”

Ruffalo didn’t totally understand the point Barry was trying to make. But, he took a moment to think about what he would be having for dinner tonight, which were these frozen dumplings that he loved and was saving for a special occasion, just so that he wouldn’t be thinking about dinner when it was time to be pondering life.

Barry and Ruffalo arrived at the viewing location and mingled with everyone present. As the moment for the solar eclipse drew closer and the moon approached the sun in the sky everyone started to peel off and find a small quiet spot for pondering.

Ruffalo looked up at the sky as the moon crossed in front of the sun, slowly overtaking it in a crescent shape. Ruffalo had one final thought:

“Huh, as the moon takes over it almost makes the sun look kind of like a dumpling.”

Ruffalo’s mouth began to water. It watered throughout the whole eclipse. Ruffalo couldn’t help but think of what sauce he would dip his dumplings in, whether he would pan fry or steam them. He hadn’t even had breakfast that morning he was so excited for the eclipse. Maybe he should have, maybe he wouldn’t be thinking about dumplings had he just eaten something beforehand. Like going to the grocery store on an empty stomach. You want all of it because the idea of eating everything is such a good idea when you’re hungry. But then when you’re not hungry it’s kind of the opposite. But the dumplings were coming. He knew that for certain. He couldn’t wait for that.

Then the eclipse was over.