Stay gold, Ponyboy!

They say that there is nothing so constant as change, and I believe it.

Then again, some things never change:

That had better just be fruit juice, young lady!

I've changed a lot over the years, but deep down inside, I'm still this person (on the left):

And I always will be.  Who else could I be?

It's natural to grow and change as you get older, and we wouldn't be very interesting people if we didn't learn from our mistakes as we fumble along through this life of ours.  We learn more from our failures than from our victories, so the failures make the victories all the sweeter, right?

Anywho, I'm getting all off-track, but I'm too lazy to edit myself into oblivion today.  I actually came here to write about a different kind of change: the change that people go through when they want to be famous.

I got to thinking about this subject after flipping through the FM dial the other day and realizing that Adele's Rollin' In The Deep was on nearly every channel.  Now, I love Adele, and it's a testament to how great that song is that I am not even sick of it (yet).  What I love most about her, however, is that she looks so normal.

She's a beautiful girl, sure, but she's not your typical pop star.  Not only is she an incredibly talented singer and songwriter, but she doesn't fit into that mold that everyone else seems to cram themselves into.  She's a little chubby, just like the rest of us.  She looks great with her hair and make up done, but she also looks fresh and natural when she's caught by the paparazzi getting coffee, etc.  Her voice is sultry, soulful, and strong, and she looks the part.  In short, I think she's adorable and I hope she never changes.

But I'll bet she will, because nothing gold can stay.

Since when do singers all have to be skinny and drop-dead gorgeous, anyway?  Who decided that the public couldn't (or shouldn't) tolerate fat or ugly people who happen to have talent?  These days, the minute someone makes it really big they go from looking like this:

 To looking like this:

Which, in my opinion, is boring has hell.  Sure, if Jennifer Hudson here is healthier and happier, then good for her!  But I somehow doubt she starved herself went on Weight Watchers to be healthier.  She went on a huge diet because she was sick of feeling like the Goodyear blimp at fittings, and tired of carrying the "Proud Fat Chick" banner for the rest of us.  I'm not blaming her, I'm just saying that with talent like hers, she should be able to look any way she wants.

Isn't that right, Aretha?

That's right, baby!

Anywho, just a friendly reminder from your neighborhood Bev to be kind to yourself.  Love yourself, even if you have a few pounds to lose or have adult acne or massive breasts that are just a little bit terrifying.  There's only one you, and you are awesome.

That is all.

Have a great week!

PS)  Since Frank asked me what the title means, I'm adding this note in case anyone else doesn't get the reference.  "Stay gold, Ponyboy" is a line from the movie, The Outsiders, which is based on the book by S.E. Hinton. The line is referring to this poem by Robert Frost:

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf,
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay.

*dusting off hands* I think we've all learned something here today. My work here is done!