It’s hard to fathom that eleven years have passed since Paul Walker’s untimely death. The beloved actor, best known for his role in the Fast and Furious series, tragically lost his life in a car accident in November 2013 when his Porsche Carrera GT collided with a pole and burst into flames.
Walker’s passing devastated fans worldwide and left a profound sense of grief for his family, including his fiancée, Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell, and his daughter, Meadow Rain Walker, whom he shared with Rebecca McBrain.
At the time of her father’s death, Meadow was just 15, an incredibly tough age to endure such a loss. While there’s never an ideal time to lose a parent, navigating that grief during the tumultuous teenage years must have been an especially heavy burden to carry. Despite the challenges, Meadow has shown remarkable resilience in the face of her father’s passing. Now 25, she is undoubtedly making her father proud.
From a young age, it was clear that Paul Walker was destined for a career in entertainment. Born in 1973, he began acting as a child in the ’70s and ’80s before gaining recognition for his role on the soap opera The Young and the Restless. His career continued to flourish with performances in films like the 2001 thriller Joy Ride, but it was his iconic role as Brian O’Connor in the first Fast and Furious movie that truly catapulted him to fame.
Walker reprised this role several times as the franchise exploded in popularity, solidifying his status as a leading action star. His unexpected death at the age of 40 shocked fans and colleagues alike, with heartfelt tributes pouring in from co-stars like Vin Diesel and Tyrese Gibson. Meanwhile, Jasmine and Meadow had to grapple with the sudden loss of a partner and father.
While we can only imagine the pain felt by Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell and Meadow Rain Walker, it’s clear that Meadow has worked hard to honor her father’s memory.
In the years following his death, Meadow matured significantly. She completed high school and immediately dedicated herself to various projects, including the launch of the Paul Walker Foundation, using part of her inheritance to establish it.
The foundation aims to safeguard our oceans, wildlife, and ultimately ourselves. Its website describes it as “an enduring light of Paul’s unique spirit, far-reaching goals, and spontaneous goodwill”.
Reports indicate that Meadow, who is also pursuing her studies, continues to manage the foundation with the support of her godfather and Paul’s longtime friend, Vin Diesel. It truly warms my heart to see Meadow carrying forward her father’s legacy of kindness and compassion. I can only imagine how proud he would be of her efforts.
Does anyone else miss Paul Walker? The Fast and Furious films just don’t feel the same without him! Rest in peace, Paul, 1973-2013. Thank you for all the cherished memories.
Waitress gets ‘$0’ tip on ‘$187’ bill, turns heads after making Facebook post in response
If you decide to pursue a career in the restaurant industry, especially the position of a waiter or a waitress, you should know it is followed by certain difficulties such as dealing with tough customers who are impatient and may treat you with disrespect, and not to mention how difficult it is to be on your feet all day.
However, the biggest issue is the pay which is pretty low. Because these employees are expected to be tipped, the country of U.S allows the restaurant owners to pay the workers less than the federal minimum wage.
In 21 states, servers are paid only $2.13 an hour before tips. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, “nearly 15% of the nation’s 2.4 million waiters and waitresses live in poverty, compared with about 7% of all workers. They are more likely to need public assistance and less likely to receive paid sick leave or health benefits.”
Although they should be tipped, there are customers who are so rude that they decide to tip the waiter or waitress who served them under the standard 15% or even noting. That is exactly what happened to a waitress Taylar Cordova who was so angry at the customer that she decided to share the bill on line and rise awareness of the disrespectful way these workers are treated.
She received no tip on a bill totaling $187.43. A standard tip would have given Cordova $28.11. The post has been shared more than 12,000 times.
The caption read:
‘“This. This is the reason I work so much. This is why I cry in the shower. I STRUGGLE to put clothes on my daughter’s back and food in our bellies because of THIS. You, are the lowest of the low. Whenever you feel like it’s probably fine to not tip your server, that’s one more bill stacking up because they’re short on money. This is food for the week that our families will go without because you didn’t think it was necessary, even after asking for everything under the sun and receiving it free of charge, mind you. This is one less basic necessity my daughter needs because even TWO more dollars is too much for you.
Every decision has a consequence. Servers are paid a base pay of $2-5/hr depending on the employer, so next time you don’t want to tip, regardless of the situation prior to receiving your bill, think about how much you would have to work that week off $2-5/hr to feed your family, not just you. Could you pay your bills based on that pay alone? Could you feed your family AND yourself? Because that’s what happens when you choose to not tip. Please, please tip your servers. Even if it was the worst service you’ve ever received. A 10% tip is a big enough slap in the face, this completely tore me apart. Don’t even bother walking into a restaurant if you can’t afford to tip. There’s a McDonald’s down the street if you’re that cheap.”
But things may be looking up for servers in the future. According to Eater, “Seven states — including New York — have already increased or eliminated the lower tipped minimum wage and seven more are in the process of increasing or eliminating it altogether.” This change is necessary because, according to the National Restaurant Association, by the end of this year, 12.9 million people will work in the restaurant industry, which will account for 10% of the U.S. workforce.
Note: This article originally appeared on May 16, 2017.
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