Mel

You have the best gift on earth....your verbal skills...Yell FIRE.

Studies have shown people respond to Fire over rape, attack, or murder calls...Don't yell help me...yell Fire!

I don't consider 60 old at all. I am 54. I do think this guy might have been giving you a hard time...the chances of him getting off at your stop in New York are slim...of course, you know some places hire private detectives in litigation stuff....It is hard to believe that some one would do that over this.

As far as the gun, my husband is a law enforcement professional (mid-management). I won't say exactly what he does. He has the opinion that most of us inexperienced people get hurt or killed with our own guns, and no, we are no match for younger people, as no matter how much we train, a strong younger person will likely overpower even the best trained older person, and get their gun, and then you have a strong, armed young person. We as older adults can maintain muscle mass, but we do develop sarcopenia...the best we can do it fight it with weight lifting, but, just like our VO2max and max heart rate....there are declines...not that a really trained older elite athlete can't kick butt.

My son trained me to shoot with a rifle, and I hit about 75%...but that is in a relaxed state and a non moving target....give me a hand gun and a moving target with the fear factor and God only knows what would happen. I would likely shoot myself!! My son is a military expert marksman with recent combat experience. He said I am a great shot, provided he is there to watch me and I don't get distracted or nervous...or overexcited because I think I am a hotshot.

If any one ever shoots right at you, you make yourself a smaller target by standing sideways, if there is no other method of escape. Perhaps you might feel better by taking a class on self protective behaviors. It is likely the guy who followed you is just a nut....

Call me a hick, but the worst we have to worry about here is tornadoes, and airborne bicycling witches inside those tornadoes (oh wait, that might be me!! ) and gossip. LOL If I am not here next week perhaps a house landed on me...and those feet sticking out..well, hey they won't ache anymore.

Glad you got home safe....Silent Night??? and Orthodox Jewish garb? I can picture the Pope dancing at a Jewish wedding, hmm....(I come from a very mixed relgious tradition, which makes me either very tolerant or very confused,) but my, my, New York definitely is diverse!!