Where Were YOU?

Most of us remember where we were when a news worthy event occurred i.e. 9/11 - VJ day, JFK assassination, etc. Last week, in Cape May, N.J. I had a conversation with the woman who owns the only hardware store in town. Earlier on she had gone to school in Manhattan, worked in various corporate internships and rode the New York subway system. We compared notes on our subway experiences. She said "Do you remember Bernie Goetz?" I said I certainly did. In December 1984 Goetz was riding the number 2 train when he was accosted by four youths seeking money from him. He had previously been a victim of a mugging and suspected the same fate this time. Feeling threatened, he rose, pulled a 38 caliber pistol from his jacket and shot all four individuals. He later turned himself in and his life was never the same. He became a vigilante hero to some and the press gave the incident lengthy coverage. My new friend said she was on the same train that day only several cars away and when police and medics arrived all the passengers were detained and delayed several hours. I had to confess that my rides on the Lexington Avenue Express were less eventful.
tjs
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