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.
The Dangers of the Newest ‘Dry Scooping’ Trend
Love it or hate it, TikTok is a social networking site that has gone viral worldwide. A lot of users visit the app to watch dancing videos, try out fitness trends, or discover new cooking methods. However, trends on TikTok can occasionally be hazardous and misleading. The “dry scooping” fad is one example of this.
Those of you who work out frequently might be familiar with protein powder. Before consuming, it is usually combined with water or another liquid. On the other hand, people are ingesting the powder straight instead of the liquid because to the “dry scooping” fad on TikTok. It is actually highly dangerous, even if it could appear like a time-saver.
To what extent is it dangerous? After attempting the trend, one young woman admitted to suffering a heart attack. Some people have mentioned having trouble breathing when the dry powder gets inside their lungs. The unexpected surge of caffeine associated with “dry scooping” is one of the key worries. Twenty-year-old Briatney Portillo experienced a heart attack subsequent to attempting the trend. “I started to feel tingly and itchy all over my body after I took the pre-workout, which wasn’t a good feeling,” she stated. I chose to ignore it and continue working out since I believed it might be nervousness or a severe panic attack.
But things got out of hand very quickly. Portillo started to feel dizzy, began to perspire a lot, and had severe chest pain that went down her left arm. As soon as she realized she was having a heart attack, she dialed 911. It served as a warning to others and a wake-up call for Portillo.
A significant problem with “dry scooping” is the ignorance about the precise substance being eaten. Pre-workout powders such as this one are not governed by the FDA, according to Dr. Jason Nagata, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. These powders run a serious risk of being tainted with illegal drugs, stimulants, steroids, or other harmful compounds. Abuse of these drugs raises the risk of heart attacks, liver damage, and other severe health issues.
Portillo wishes to raise awareness of the risks associated with “dry scooping.” She stresses that something is not always safe just because it is viewed online, especially if it is being done by so-called “fitness influencers.” The things we put into our body need to be carefully considered. Our youth does not grant us unstoppable strength.
Therefore, let’s put our health and safety first, make wise decisions, and stay away from risky practices like “dry scooping.”
Leave a Reply