Joy of the Day, Day 15: The Whale

I started this beautiful book about nine months ago—the bookmark I’m using is actually the ticket that was clipped to our cluster of reserved chairs on the beach at Sea Pines, where we’ve congregated with my family each of the last few Julys. It’s a book about whales, about whaling, about Herman Melville and Moby Dick, and it’s so dense; I’ve had to re-read the first 50 pages three times just to begin anew and take another stab at finishing it. Because I am who I am, I can’t possibly start a new book before completing the one I’ve already started, even if it means trudging through a book-reading desert for nearly a year. Today, in the spirit of quarantining, projects and productivity, I decided to make finishing The Whale my mission. It feels good to have goals. As of this evening I’m on page 75, so I’m winning!

Today, this book called The Whale is my joy. #joyinplace