I Couldn't Sleep

The assumption appeared to be that the world could be sufficiently understood through fictions, histories, and biographies.

-Ian McEwan
ENDURING LOVE

Twenty-five years ago today:

February 24, 1987
Tuesday

I bought thirty-five postcards and went to the beach, writing them all out from 8AM until 9:30AM.  I attempted to lie out and catch some rays but the sun fooled me. It felt so good and then it started to rain! It was a soft sprinkle and then a sudden, harsh, hard rain! Everyone on the beach scrambled and made a run for it.  It was rather funny.

I went and bought three T-shirts and a pair of shoes (at ESPRIT).  I browsed in a bookstore for a while. I couldn't believe the weather now.  It was suddenly nice, so I decided to go try the lay out in the sun scene again. Of course, it rained again.  I found an abandoned lounge chair and I did lie out near the beach anyway.

I bought lunch at a local spot and had my first real meal. It was three o'clock and I went to my hotel to sleep. It was dark and I couldn't believe it but I slept until 1:30AM (in the morning). I must've been tired. How unreal is that? I knew I couldn't stay awake at this hour, so I forced myself to try and sleep because the whole idea behind a good vacation is to 'rest'.  Of course, I couldn't sleep…

What takes a minute to describe took two seconds to experience.
-Ian McEwan
ENDURING LOVE