20 Comments
User's avatar
Robert Walrod's avatar

One of the best Substack posts I've read in a while.

Expand full comment
Julia Bedell's avatar

Thank you, Robert. That is incredibly kind- I'm glad you found it

Expand full comment
Robert Walrod's avatar

You're very welcome.

Expand full comment
Paula Briggs Laverty's avatar

A beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing.

Expand full comment
Tina Nordloh's avatar

This is beautifully written. The haunting reverence for the young female whale sweeps past, almost as if whispering in a church. Thank you for your words <3

Expand full comment
Julia Bedell's avatar

Whispering in a church! yes, wow

Expand full comment
Jim Bedell's avatar

Thanks for exploring and capturing all the elements of the scene, from the scientific to the spiritual

Expand full comment
Julia Bedell's avatar

Happy you guys were there

Expand full comment
Jill's avatar

Did not enjoy this. Not bc of your writing (which is top shelf) but bc Jesus holy mary mother of god, humans are fucking awful aren’t they. Selfies in the mouth of a dead juvenile Finn whale feels like a new low, even in the year that elected Trump (again). Off to cry myself to sleep. Not sure whether to thank you for this (I feel defiled) but it is **expertly** written, so thank you for that. ❤️

Expand full comment
Julia Bedell's avatar

😂😂😂 sorry not sorry for defiling you

Expand full comment
Kathy Bedell's avatar

I really, really enjoyed this piece, Julia! One of your best! I particularly like the photo with the shadows reflected on the whale. KB

Expand full comment
Julia Bedell's avatar

Thank you! Aren’t those photos great

Expand full comment
Lisa B's avatar

Beautiful essay. I liked the photo with the shadows of the people on the whale! I didn't realize that you had gone out earlier. I am glad we went to see it. It is usually best to see something in person. But I did not like seeing the people climbing on the whale. It felt wrong and disrespectful.

Expand full comment
Julia Bedell's avatar

Agreed :)

Expand full comment
Sage's avatar

This was the article I needed about this spectacle

Expand full comment
Julia Bedell's avatar

Ahh I’m so glad! A spectacle, yes, that

Expand full comment
rish vee's avatar

Ahhhhhhhhh Julia why is your writing so beautiful, even when it’s about giant/gentle/dead creatures and disgusting humans. Thank you for sharing your experience. And the photos are just magnificent.

Expand full comment
Julia Bedell's avatar

Aww. Thank you. We humans are fascinating, huh

Expand full comment
Paolo Peralta's avatar

Agree!

Expand full comment
Kara Norman's avatar

“The equivalent of keeping a lover in a cage to satisfy the urge to have them, only to realize that’s not how it works.” 👌🏽

Expand full comment