White hair, old bones, and the heart of a Dragon

The sound of a fog horn announces your arrival. You finish the last of your drink as you converse with friends on what sites you want to see first. You make your way below decks to gather your cash and your sunglasses. The main deck is buzzing as patrons stand in line, awaiting departure. The ship has moored and the gang plank secured. You scan your cruise ship I.D. and make your way down to one of the tour vans, anxious to see what this strange new land and its people have to offer.

The tour guide is a professional. He hits all the hot spots of his native land, proudly providing you and your friends with a brief history on sites along the tour route, and all the time you wish to purchase trinkets and mementos from the stands that line the streets. The van comes to a halt in front of a few ramshackle tables where more merchants are hawking their wares in front of a ‘famous’ landmark. You don’t see anything at this stop that interests you, so you opt to stay in the van and relax. You lean left then right as folks climb across and around you to exit to the street. With an air of excitement, bartering begins. Money is exchanged for goods and there are smiles all around.

Then something goes terribly wrong.

From the shadows, three masked men materialize and begin demanding money, watches, and jewelry. What the hell? Is this a joke? Is this some pantomime that the locals play for the enjoyment of every tour group that happens this way?

One of the men shows a gun, the others flash the cold steel of knives.

Jesus, it all looks real from where you are sitting.

The merchants back away quickly, the worried looks on their faces giving credence to the reality of the situation. The man with the gun and his cronies grow more agitated by the second. The timber of the gunman's voice rises as the muscles around his neck tighten. He places the gun against the temple of a female tourist. He is nearly dancing in place as his head whips in one direction and then another. Money, he wants in now!

What would you do?

What if you were over 70 years old?

Although I have taken some creative license with the story, the core facts remain intact. This did in fact happen in Costa Rica to a tour group from Carnival Cruise Lines. Below is taken from one news source (Associated Press). If you wish, I am sure you can search out more articles on this incident.

February 23, 2007
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) -- An American woman, exploring Costa Rica with a group from a cruise ship, says she thought it was a joke when three men armed with knives and a gun tried to hold them up.
But then, one of the masked attackers held a gun to her head. Clova Adams says that's when another of the tourists -- a U-S military veteran in his 70s who was trained in self defense -- came to the rescue.
Police say he jumped out of the van the Americans were using, and put the gunman in a headlock. They say the American struggled with the robber, eventually breaking his collarbone and killing him. The other two men fled.
Adams, speaking from the Carnival Liberty cruise ship, says she thought she was going to die, until her fellow passenger came to the rescue.
The U.S. Embassy confirms what happened, but it isn't identifying the American who rescued the group.
Costa Rican officials say they won't charge him with a crime, because he acted in self-defense.

I just wanted to tip my hat to this gentleman, whoever he may be. He is a hero in my book, and the world could use more people with his spirit. I think at 70, running was less of an option. Placing his life, and the members of his group, in the hands of ghouls was not an option at all.
Talk to ya soon.