DENVER — Finally, a postage stamp fit for the 1980s angst of singer Bonnie Tyler and her broken-hearted ballad, “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”
Only, in this case, it’s a total eclipse of the sun — with just the touch of a finger.
The stamp changes from an image of the total eclipse into the moon from the heat of a finger. Once cooled, the image returns to that of the total eclipse.
The total eclipse of the sun forever stamp has been released to commemorate the upcoming eclipse on Aug. 21.
It will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the U.S. mainland since 1979, four years before Tyler released her No. 1 Billboard hit.
This year’s eclipse will travel a narrow path across the country, which hasn’t happened since 1918.
The back of the stamp sheet shows the path it will cross, giving more than 1,100 cities between Oregon and South Carolina an opportunity to see the event.
Tyler might have been correct when she said there’s nothing you can say about a total eclipse of the heart, but in the case of the new total eclipse forever stamp, this picture is worth a thousand words, and will only cost about $8 for a sheet of 16.
Which means “Forever’s gonna start tonight” for anyone who wants to make an online order. Which is what the U.S. Postal Service suggests everyone do because demand is very high for the stamps.
A total eclipse of the sun occurs when the moon completely blocks the visible solar disk from view, casting a shadow on Earth. The sun will appear completely covered for a few moments.
While a total eclipse of the heart is what happens when falling in love turns to falling apart, and the light in your life you once had turns to love in the dark, this according to Tyler.