I was mugged by a 70+ year old lady today.

[denbot]

I ride the Metro subway to work. When I pulled up to my station I noticed that the parking lot was full for the first time. I did not know what was going on until I reached my first transfer point the Green Line/Blue Line station. The platform was full of Laker fans in full regalia, doh' the Laker victory paraded was today. I finally got past the Staples Center, and transferred through all three trains to my office stop on Wilshire Blvd, stopping for a moment to buy a slice of pizza. As I entered my building I bit down on something crunchy which turned out to be a temporary crown installed just last Friday.

I notified my supervisor called my dentist and headed back home. reaching the Red Line/Blue Line station downtown the stations were still packed with thousands of fans and the usual suspects.
The train door opens and instantly all the seats were filled except a window seat with a small elderly lady on the isle side. I motion to her that I was going to sit next to her, and she vigorously shook her head no. I paused looked for a husband or grand child but she was alone and more fans were pouring into the train, so I passed in front of her she grabbed me screaming in spanish, and tried to keep me from reaching the empty seat next to her. As I gently passed to her left she grabbed the back of my right bicep and dug in her nails and did not let go until after I sat down and she just became too tired to keep up pressure.

We were seated three rows back from the first door of the lead car of the train, and a uniformed metro rail official was at the door. After she released my arm she started yelling at the official who did not seem to speak spanish either. He nodded at me and said to leave her alone, and I told him all I did was sit down. He laughed shrugged and made it a point to not look in our direction, because the old woman had by now fished out a chrome whistle and started to blow it until all the surrounding passengers started to yell at her.

I have bruises on the back of my arm from her claws and tinnitus from her whistle. Weird..

[Skittles]

1. I would have grabbed that whistle and thrown it as far as I could

I don't care how old she was

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear denbot!

Ouch! How bizarre.

I'm sorry to hear it. First your crown, and now your arm. The lovely Alley had better be nice tonight!

I wonder what in hell was the matter with the old lady...

:scared:

:hug:

[denbot]

3. I think I might have been sitting on her invisible friend..

:shrug: :silly: :shrug:

[Ikonoklast]

4. I never ask permission to sit in an empty seat on public transportation.

I paid my fare, just like everyone else, and if there is an empoty seat, I sit down.

And the last person that touched me without my consent needed a doctor afterwards.

And a lawyer.

[denbot]

5. Around here people will make a small gesture to indicate they are taking an empty seat.

This lets the person sitting next to it either to move stuff off the seat in question, or shift to let the other person by. There was no way I was going to do anything to a near octogenarian woman including pulling away suddenly. I am a healthy male with a reasonably high pain tolerance, old crazy ladies are just as fragile as any older person.

[pitohui]

6. i would have taken a picture of lady and bruises, and filed a police report

this isn't cute, it's dangerous, little old ladies in their 70s who are acting weird and violent probably have a problem that needs addressed, such as some form of dementia

in any case, i don't care what age someone is, they don't get to stick their claws in my arm and blow a whistle

we all have cell phones w. cameras in them now, this should have been documented

i would have also got the "officer's" name who refused to make any report or take any action, it may the woman is a known "nut" and he's afraid of her, but it's sort of his JOB to stop people from grabbing other people on the train, isn't it?

the family needs to be aware this is going on, they may be in denial abt the extent of her illness

[jervz]

7. Weird

Maybe you should mention that you are a Gasol fan :)

[denbot]

8. I think that might have been relevant if she was wearing a Boston Jersey..

I'm thinking she was a Clipper fan..

[elana i am]

9. she might have been senile

dementia can make you do some pretty weird stuff.

[Skittles]

10. you were wearing pants, right denbot?

just checking

[denbot]

11. Since I'm not under oath..

I decline to answer...