Paul and Stella McCartney, Los Angeles, 1975. By Harry Benson

"You look stupid until a year later, when you think, 'Not bad. What was I complaining about?'"

--Harry Benson, the photojournalist whose 40-year career has included prominent work for Life, Vanity Fair, and the New Yorker, on how people react to photos of themselves (via his recent interview with the New York Observer.)  

I am admittedly an admirer of all things Beyoncé -- I wouldn't say I'm a fan, but I can't help but recognize the woman is a force of nature -- but I think even the most jaded observer would think her latest video is great in one way or another. Well, at least if she's a woman in her mid- to late-twenties or so.

Here's why: It has a clever narrative (can't we all relate to that awkward high school date footage) beautiful surroundings (where was this shot?) gorgeous attire (I want one of everything she wears in the first 20 seconds of the video) and really interesting camera work (does anyone know if they used a DSLR to shoot this?) I'm not really a fan of the song, but the video itself gives me some hope for the future of MTV's original medium.

Also, it should ring true to any girl who has looked back happily at the demise of past relationships and realized they definitely dodged a bullet or two.

"...this father-friend

who liked to show me the shape I would become

rather than cutting my edges so I could fit a preferred cast more to his liking

since it seemed what he liked best was to recognize native clay

solid in its mystery

and observe how its wonder was synecdoche for the indescribable majesty of

its being observed by someone.

I love discussing celebrity/society/media gossip with my husband, because it gives me first-hand insight into the perspective of the general population (i.e., people who literally couldn't care less about such nonsense.)

Me: [Catching up on news on my laptop] Geez, everyone's announced pregnancies recently!
B: Oh really? Like, your friends?
Me: Well, no, I mean celebrities. There's Natalie Portman, Kate Hudson, Victoria Beckham...
B: [His face registers recognition of the first two names, but I lose him on the third]
Me: Victoria Beckham is Posh Spice? From the Spice Girls? She's married to David Beckham.
B: Oh, right! Well, that's nice.
Me: And also Ivanka Trump!
B: [Another blank look.]
Me: She's Donald Trump's daughter?
B: [Registering recognition, but still blank look as to why she, herself, is notable]
Me: You know, she married Jared Kushner?
B: [Face lights up] Oh, the guy from the Subway commercials?