While most Bluffton solar eclipse watchers witnessed an 85 percent eclipse on Aug. 21 the Basil and Rosemary Meyer family experienced the “real thing.”

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According to Tonya Meyer, seven of the nine adult Meyer children plus all 12 Meyer grandchildren experienced the eclipse while staying at the Abbey of Gesthsemani in Kentucky.

The Meyer’s son, Matt, (Brother Matthias) is at the abbey.

“It was awesome,” said Tonya, who is director of the Bluffton Senior Citizens Center. “We saw all 2 minutes and 40 seconds of total darkness.”

Five of the Meyer children are Bluffton High graduates. They are Tonya 1987; Mike, 1990; Mary 1993; and Natasha and Theresa (twins) 2000. Children graduating from Tinora High School are Ed, Donna, Brother Mattias and Rebecca.