Bethany Larson

Dear fellow college students,

While in college I have learned several things:
1) Wear shower shows
2) Uggs and shorts do not mix well
3) Wendy’s dollar menu is amazing
4) I study so much that I don’t have time to read anything I want to read.

I must admit that I was an avid reader until I got to college. Then text books took over and unfortunately they are not (typically) as enthralling as the things that I prefer to read for pleasure. Because of the intense reading lists that were delivered to me at the beginning of each semester, when I finally had the time to read for pleasure I didn’t do it because I didn’t want to see another word. Textbooks had burned me out on reading.

As a senior in my last semester, I made sure that I would have a pretty easy course load, and I do. I’m taking 9 hours and 3 of those are spent working on my thesis. So in the wake of a “lack” of things to read, I have found something amazing: free time. And with this free time I have begun reading for pleasure again and I’ve been surprised to find exactly how much I’ve missed it. It’s refreshing to to pick up a book and just read it for the hell of it. I don’t have to remember the plot, or the characters, or the theme, or what allegory is being portrayed this time. All I have to do is sit down and read. It’s that simple. 

So the next time you find yourself twiddling your thumbs because you “don’t have anything to do”, do yourself a favor. Instead of sitting on Facebook and actively looking for Bumper Stickers, go to the Fayetteville Public Library and pick up a book. You can thank me later.

Sincerely,
Bethany

Dear Sorority Sisters,
I am amazed at how much you do not know about music. Not to be a music snob, or an elitist, or mean. But y’all need to know more. You asked me who Al Green and Robert Plant are. And I guess that in this generation of synthesizers and drum machines and rap music being all the rage I shouldn’t expect that you know who Al Green and Robert Plant are. But, I was quite disheartened. I wish that there was something I could do to make you learn more about music and music history and understand the impact that certain people have had on music. But, you were more interested in talking about the upcoming TI concert and being surprised that Chris Brown had been arrested for domestic battery. I guess this shouldn’t bother me. But it does.
Sincerely,
Bethany

Overall, I thought that the Grammy’s were very, very predictable. Perhaps this is because my dad works in radio and perhaps I’m just really good at picking who the Grammy Academy people will pick to be winners. Either way….I was bored.

So, here is what I would say to certain performers/groups if I had the chance….

Dear Katy Perry,
Can we please have dinner together? I think we would be BFF.
Sincerely,
Bethany

Dear Coldplay,
You are not The Beatles.
Sincerely,
Bethany

Dear MIA,
Way to be unafraid of having your baby onstage.
Sincerely,
Bethany

Dear Radiohead,
I know y’all aren’t really ‘in’ to winning stuff, but I wish you had won Best Album. I suppose when you put Allison Krauss and Robert Plant together, you just can’t win. I’m sorry.
Sincerely,
Bethany

In the way of performances, I’m actually going to admit something…..Stevie Wonder/Jonas Brothers were very entertaining. Surprisingly entertaining. This is most likely because Stevie Wonder was involved. But still! I was extraordinarily surprised at how much I enjoyed their performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcsn-n2aXOg

And that’s all I got.

Dear Media,

I don’t understand why the world has a heart attack when celebrities, or people who are somehow connected to a celebrity, are caught smoking pot. Case and point, the Michael Phelps scandal and the Obama half-brother thing (does Obama even know his half-brother?). In the long run, does the world really need to know when these types of things are found out? I feel like it’s a waste of my time. I do not want to watch the news to be told about the newest “drug scandal” that deals with marijuana. I understand that it is “illegal” and that the world needs to know when people of merit and people who are considered role models are convicted of being involved in illegal activity but, speeding is illegal. I’m fairly certain that the media isn’t notified each and every time a celebrity is caught speeding. Then again, I’m sure that if it’s a slow day on the papparazzi front “celebrity speeding” could be considered big news. And then they would postulate that drugs were somehow involved and created the speeding. But, back to the original point. I feel that whatever activities adults knowingly take part in is their business and their business alone, as long as it is hurting no one. Please do not waste my time with more marijuana stories.

Sincerely,
Bethany