I have stood the shadow of a total solar eclipse, and looked straight at the sun with no glasses of any kind. It was a stunning sight. I can completely understand why natives of hundreds or thousands of years ago thought the world was going to end. I don’t think you have experienced that.
Yes, looking at that sun (or rather ... the blanked out disk) directly, without glasses is something you’ll never be able to do at any other time.
Of course ... the necessary warning here ... don’t this without special glasses until it’s total, and we’re talking about a true total eclipse, or else you’ll damage your eyes! Don’t be looking at it without the right eye protection, either before totality or after totality. And don’t do it if you’re outside the totality zone.
Remember, you’ll ONLY get this experience if you’re in that totality zone. It’s the longest experience for you if you’re exactly in the center of that zone.