Wow! That's such an interesting eclipse experience, @melinda010100! With the Internet, it's so easy for people to find out how to watch the Sun safely. Back then, it would have been so much harder to know. In preparing to see this eclipse, I read accounts by people that had really messed up their vision in past eclipses. So I can appreciate your Mom's perspective. I hope you get to see the total eclipse in 2024. It's totally worth traveling to see the totality!