Alan will protect me. At least that's why he's been working out at the gym for the past year. He's got muscles on top of his muscles. The only reason he hasn't gone in a month is the foot ulcer. But he'll go back Monday.

I told him "more muscles, more muscles" "I'm a hot 60 year old who attracts weird people on trains, SO WORK OUT!!!!"

He laughed his head off.

I'm better today. I went to the laundromat. Can't hide myself in my house. Once you do that, you never leave.

I was an abused woman over 35 years ago. It was my first real boyfriend who I was madly in love with. Thank god I knew enough to leave.

I don't want to feel that kind of fear ever again. I don't like people encroaching (is that a word???) in my personal space.

I think the man from last night was a nut and he will probably go and follow someone else on another train.

Me??? I carry a knife now. Alan tells me "don't do that, just kick him in the "you know where". "That will stop him in his tracks".

We shall see if this is ever necessary.

Gee, it stinks to be getting older, getting more fearful and knowing that there are nuts out there.

Melody

Mel - does your state have a "carry permit" that allows you to carry a pistol? I'm 75 and have a carry permit and I go armed almost everywhere. Of course, I've had the training for this and I'm also retired from the military so I feel comfortable with going "armed". Have never had reason to draw my gun but wouldn't hesitate if the circumstances required it. This give me a sense of security and if someone attacked they would regret it.

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!!

its a moot point about the gun since new york city i s the hardest place to get a permit in the nation. Unless you are a billionaire or political friend of the mayor's of course.

pepper spray is a good alternative as well as some small flashlights which can actually blind the person while you make your escape.....i really would not recommend a knife for the same reason as cycleopes said about it being used on you.

an extra reason I feel safer carrying my cane! Can you see the headlines now?

ROBBER FOILED BY HANDICAP TARGET'S CANE [OR WALKER?]!!!

It's soo hard to tell whether a person is simply ill, crazy or dangerous these days. I believe you aren't supposed to make eye contact or some such. Now, if you see him again and again...then get spooked? Then there are some ill and slitely crazy people who are really nice folks once you get to know them...

Now can you tell me how not to forget that I've got my cane in hand and almost trip over it? ! - j

When I read the post about the nut job who followed us yesterday (BINGO), lightbulb moment. He came on the same train from the courthouse (It's a very simple court case, Alan signed up for a course on Armed Security Guard, they took my credit card, charged my card, then Alan decided they were not on the up and up, and he only took one class. But my credit card was charged the full amount.

So here we are trying to get the money back. Now the coincidence of this guy being on the train (from the courthouse), going on another train with us, getting on the same bus and getting off at the same stop IS SLIM TO NONE!!

I just walked over to Alan and said "and you used to be a private detective"??? He said "now who on earth is hiring a private eye to follow us??" and I said "It has to be the company involved in the court case because WHO ELSE KNEW WHERE WE WERE GOING TO BE??

Now why this company would have us followed is beyond me. Now that I think about it, maybe the whole "singing of Silent Night" and mumbling to himself, maybe that was part of the 'Surveillance".

I have no idea. I can't imagine why they would do this (or why anyone else would do this).

And as soon as we got off the bus and STAYED WHERE WE WERE, the guy went the other way. I think he knew we MADE HIM!!!! You know what I mean.

Holy Moly, I never would have thought of that!!! Thanks so much.

No more knife. Pepper Spray is better.

Melody

as everyone as says - be prepared - be aware at all times who is around you-and agree with cyclops- dont carry a regular gun -its too dangerous for everyone (could be used on you)..... i had a stalker that was a neighbor in an apartment i loved on the beach- lived below me - i knew the guy was strange and i'm usually friendy and chatty with people - but never engaged in more the polite conversation with him from my balcony - he came to my door several times supposedly "say hello" etc. - never let him in... then I noticed he was listening to my phone conversations from his patio, if i went for walks to the beach to get a (yes) dove bar he'd be about 50 feet behind me, and one night I was sitting on the balcony and made a dinner date to meet a couple blocks away at a local restaurant - half way thru dinner I saw him plastered against the glass that surounded the patio staring at me... ok- thats when it really hit me this guy was nuts... and his next step was to wait for friend to leave one evening - then leave at my door 13 callilies-which were a threat... thats when I called the police..... they took a stalking report, the officer told me of course they couldnt do anything unless he touched me - but if I were his girlfriend/wife/sister he'd tell me to move asap - I did... and in the interim he told he to carry a stun gun i had with me at all times (which he showed me how to hold so that it hopefully couldnt be turned on me) until I found a new place......which I did quickly..... and also be completely aware at all time what was going on around me - have my door key out the minute I got out of the car so I could get into the house quickly, just never let my guard down... even check inside the car before I got in to make sure no one was hiding in it....

To this day I'm angry I had to leave that apartment, I loved it, but at the same time - very thankful to the officer for the advice.....

We have to watch out for ourselves!

positively cannot say now that your life is dull!

I think cycelops is right..but, again I'd have to ask why? Strange.
Could you bring pepper spray into a courthouse tho...Could you 'check it in' sort of or something...Seems like right after....going home would be when you'd need it most. Or would it be Alan? Most peculiar.

Kmeb - how totally creepy!

Hugs to all, find a way to PARTY this weekend! - j