The total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 was seen by millions of people from coast to coast and may have been the most anticipated, most photographed celestial event of all time. My own journey to this eclipse began 39 years ago, when as a high school student I witnessed the last North American total eclipse with a group of friends and our remarkable science teacher. I'll describe how we all reunited last summer as part of a nationwide team of citizen scientists, collecting data that will add to our knowledge of our nearest star. I'll also discuss the next North American total eclipse in 2024—you won't have to travel far from Ann Arbor to see it!