We drove to central Arkansas to witness totality during the eclipse today.

It was an experience I cannot describe.

I've seen plenty of eclipses from 80% or 90% and it's not even close.

We were with about 100 other people, spread out in a small field at a state park.

It got completely dark in a matter of minutes and pretty much looked like night. Temperature dropped. All the crickets started chirping.

I instantly felt incredibly uneasy. My heart rate jumped to about 120. I felt numb and dizzy.

I thought maybe I was having a panic attack, which is dumb because I know what an eclipse is, I have a damn Master's degree, but when it was over, lots of people around us were also saying they felt dizzy, heart racing etc. The park ranger there told me it's actually very common during totality. For some people, the instant shift to darkness does something in your brain, amygdala gland or something, and it basically triggers your fight or flight. I was thinking that. Like maybe a circadian rhythm thing---- anyway I wasn't prepared for that.

I felt shaky and weird for like an hour.

We made friends with a family from Colorado and got burgers from a route 66 diner place.

Tl;dr

Should you go experience a total eclipse in totality?

Yep