When my cousin crashed our rental car, leaving me with a $5,000 bill, I spent months trying to get her to pay me back. Just as I gave up, I saw her flaunting her ‘success’ on social media and discovered I wasn’t the only one she owed. Karma caught up to her, and I got a front-row seat!
It’s been a year since that disastrous West Coast holiday, and I still feel the sting of that $5,000 debt. My cousin Debra, who’s supposed to be an accountant, racked up a huge damage charge on our rental car and then had the audacity to act like it wasn’t her problem.
It was under my name, so guess who got stuck with the bill? That’s right, me. Lisa, the ever-reliable project manager from Boston. I swear, some days I think my middle name should be “Doormat.”
I remember that holiday like it was yesterday. Seven of us cousins decided to get together for some “family bonding” out on the West Coast.
Debra was there, of course, with her charismatic charm and reckless attitude. One evening, she decided it would be a fantastic idea to drive the rental car down a narrow, winding coastal road at night.
The air was crisp, the moonlight casting eerie shadows as she sped along the road, ignoring my pleas to slow down.
“Come on, Lisa, live a little!” Debra laughed, her voice filled with reckless glee.
She cranked up the music and took another swig from her bottle. I clutched the seat, my knuckles white.
“Debra, please, you’re going too fast!” I yelled, my heart pounding.
She just laughed harder, taking a sharp turn way too quickly. My heart stopped as the car skidded toward the edge, tires screeching.
I thought we were all going to die that night, but the guardrail saved us. The impact when we slammed into it was jarring, leaving us all stunned and the car a complete wreck.
The holiday mood? Completely ruined.
When the rental company slapped a $5,000 damage charge on the car, Debra just shrugged.
“We’re family,” she said with a flippant wave of her hand. “We should all pitch in.”
The other cousins mumbled vague agreements.
“Maybe we can split it evenly,” suggested Jimmy, the peacemaker of the group.
“Split it? Are you kidding? I wasn’t even in the car,” retorted Martha, crossing her arms.
“I can’t afford that right now,” mumbled Jake, avoiding eye contact.
Paparazzi photos show what Goldie Hawn, 77, really looks like – and everyone’s saying the same thing
Goldie Hawn is a name almost anyone will recognize. The actress has been a mainstay in the American media for decades because of her immensely successful career.
Behind the scenes, Hawn and her actor boyfriend Kurt Russell have been together for four decades (they celebrated their 40th anniversary on Valentine’s Day this year), and they’ve remained just as committed to one another as they were back in the very beginning.
Given the various allures and distractions life in the spotlight can bring, it’s a wonder that neither ever seems to have put a foot wrong.
What makes Kurt and Goldie’s relationship so very special – and, we might add, so real in the eyes of the public – is their steadfast dedication to each other. They don’t wield their romance as a tool to heighten their celebrity presence, nor have they ever been embroiled in scandals or publicity stunts to hijack the locomotive PR train.
Instead, theirs is a partnership that appears to be a throw-back to a by-gone era, an inspiring and very agreeable union that reminds us all what true love is really about.
As well as sharing adoration for one another, they also defend each other when scrutinized by the media. In fact, Russell defended Hawn when she was recently called cruel names by internet trolls, and when some pretty unflattering paparazzi photos of her emerged online.
One photo in particular shows her in Aspen, Colorado, rocking ugg boots, quilted pants, and a black turtleneck. At 77, she looks fantastic, but most people couldn’t help but comment on how old she now looks – cruelly saying she’s “gone too far” and no longer looks like herself.
Hawn has fought against agism in Hollywood by simply ignoring the comments, embracing getting older and not letting the teasing faze her. Russell is also incredibly supportive of his partner, with Hawn telling People magazine that Russell told her before a dinner date: “You’re unbelievable. I cannot believe how [beautiful] you look.”
After 40 years, the couple is still as in love as they were at the start, and their love story just goes to show the power of love. Despite facing harsh public opinions about their appearances, the couple doesn’t let this affect them.
Hawn especially continues to exude grace and confidence as she embraces the natural process of aging.
Leave a Reply