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>>>when a gun is pointed at you (the first time) and money is demanded, your first reaction might be (as mine was) "this isn't happening, is it?" I recall making a slight grin<<<

My first reaction was to ask if they were kidding, after getting beat in the face with the pistol I figured they were serious, but as it happened, we were in a Jeep traveling about 30 mph or more, (the Driver was in on it), the Guy in the back was the one with the Gun and he was the one beating me and asking for my wallet, Jeep - No Doors - Driver & Me went out the Drivers side, I used him as a Surfboard until we slowed down and then I ran, the guy with the Gun got the Jeep stopped a whole lot quicker than I thought he could have, then fired a few shots off at me as I ran through of all things a Cemetery.
True Story
Weirdest part is that I went immediately back up to the road mad as hell (after the guy that shot at me), totally enraged and out of control (I must have thought I was bullet proof) and all I could think of is shoving that pistol up his A$$ and beating the living crap out of him, Many Many years ago and about 100 lbs lighter than I am now.
I wonder how I have lived this long, it was only one of many stupid things that I have done (and survived)
TT

then fired a few shots off at me as I ran through of all things a Cemetery.

I never was shot at (except a Daisy pump BB gun battle- I won) but will never forget the feeling afterward where I vowed no one would hold my life in their hands like that again.

When this story broke, I checked the address where the actress was shot and discovered it wasn't far from Tompkin Square where in '68, I had been robbed (knife) at about 3AM. My friend and I couldn't find a place to crash (lots of abandoned Brownstones but we'd done that a couple of times) and were about to hang-up staying in NY anymore.

Your experience reminded me of another 'guardian angel' moment. After I pissed these guys off (didn't want to give up a ring) the knife was shoved really hard into my neck. Anyway, after they split, my friend and I headed in the opposite direction and about twenty seconds later, the park lights went off and now it was really dark. Almost pitch black. (Looking back, the lights may have saved me.)

We were startled by a dude who came out of nowhere smacking a club in his hand, asking us if we wanted to go get those guys. He'd witnessed the whole thing. He wore a hat with one side of the brim pushed up--we later discovered he was a Nam vet. The three of us spent the day touring around and trying to hustle money, walking up one of the Avenues (man, I'd never seen so many people on a sidewalk at one time in my life!). We took advantage of the new Pall Mall Golds being handed out in little four-pack samplers. After we collected enough change to make a phone call, we got some money wired to buy a couple of bus tickets home.

If I ever go back, it'd be out of curiosity only. And I'll be taking the angel with me, I hope.