This is No Ordinary Old Lady in Big Girl Panties

Today started out in the usual fashion. About 6AM I woke up to the sounds of my ‘pet’ rooster outside the window, crowing his head off. One day that rooster won’t have a head, or so I would like to believe, but I know he will be replaced with another, so it may as well be him. We have established a long lasting relationship after 6 weeks. It was chilly this morning, so I snuggled down under my sheet and enjoyed the last few minutes of a snooze before it was time for my walk.

My hired car is on the fritz due to some bad gas and today was my day to go to downtown, in a cab, by myself. First off though, was the walk and stop at the local ‘Kinko’s’ where the nice young lady always has my copies prepared neatly, promptly and with a smile. The electricity was off yesterday afternoon so we decided that I could pick them up on my way to Adum in the morning. Got the copies. It was now taxi time. After a deep cleansing breath, I start in. Getting a taxi in the morning here is tricky. There is a special hand gesture, with your index finger out pointing the way you want to go, then a wrist movement that I think only Ghanaians have. Most taxis are full this time of morning and some not going to where I was. I ended up walking past the roundabout in order to get one. No problem, it was still cool and a nice day for a walk, even though I was going to be late.

Finally I get a cab. There was the driver and another man, in the back seat. You know how sometimes you just have ‘a feeling’? I had one. Let me insert here, I have traveled around the world. That does not make me an expert but there are a few things that I know and precautions I always take. Never carry a lot of money, keep your passport and credit cards on your body, if you have a bad feeling go with it or keep your guard up, be sure you have copies of all your documents (passport, credit cards, etc) kept in a safe other place, if you have a purse or back pack always keep it zipped and in the front of you, be aware of your surroundings, and always be ready to scream.

Back to the feeling. I had one which prompted me to mentally go thru scenarios of what to do in case of ___________. You fill in the blank. The traffic was awful. I know the roads to Adum so am familiar with landmarks and things along the way. There is a ‘short cut’ that the driver took. Then a right turn, which was crowded, but not that bad. He suddenly pulled over and said the traffic was too bad and I should get out and find another taxi. Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding…….Insert here, I am not the brightest bulb in the light socket this early in the morning but suddenly could feel the adrenalin kick in. He said there was to be no charge…..ding, ding, ding, ding……and I could NOT get the door open. My first thought, OMG, what if we had an accident. Second thought as the man in the back seat leaned over me (and please, I am from the Mid-West and we from Kansas City LIKE OUR PERSONAL SPACE!!!!!!), my purse. The door opened and in those split seconds of them trying to push me out of the car I checked my purse, which had been zipped and secure in my lap with my arm across it, was NOT zipped! My little attached wallet was out and open, and as a couple of ex-husbands could tell you, when I yell, watch out. I started in at the top of my voice, “You give me my money back, you robbers…you give me my money back now” and I stuck my foot in the door (not bright but hey, it worked only because they were surprised at my sudden yelling and screaming). The ‘street’ sellers converged on the car, God Bless them, and I just kept yelling. By this time my yells also included some words in which my dear Roman Sisters would not approve of, but the words came flying anyway. The street sellers started yelling too. It was a yelling match, total chaos. “Damn it you little ________, give me my ______money NOW!” Don’t know that the Street Sellers were yelling Twi but I can only imagine. The driver told the guy to give up the cash. He did, I grabbed it, still swearing away (not good for International Relations but worked for me at the time) and off they went as that direction was not crowded with traffic.

Now you ask, get the license number. Well, I tried, and if it would have been a Missouri plate where I know the format of the numbers and letters, yes, I could have gotten 4 or 5 out of the 6. Here, no way, I only remember about four 0’s at the start and a 6. Call the police? What police? Where are the police? 911 does not exist. The street sellers were my police. So here I was, in the middle of the street, the nice street sellers apologizing all over the place. My money was safe (I didn’t have a lot but still money), the rest of the contents of my purse accounted for. All was okay. Shaken, scared, and disoriented for a moment, but, you don’t mess with this old lady. I had on my big girl panties! If I could have gotten a nice swift kick in, in a heartbeat I would have. Sorry guys but no mercy at this point.

And now what? Another taxi???? Walk???? Sit on the curb or was there a curb?? Cry? Suddenly I heard a voice speaking in good English. “Madame, Madame, come, come.” Here was a man, in a red truck, with a lady in the passenger seat and an older man in the back. He said, “Are you going to Adum? I will give you a ride if you wish.” Good feeling here, I hopped in the back. He asked what I was doing in Ghana, how long I had been here, and if the robbers had gotten anything. This man also apologized for the behavior of his countrymen.

We sat in traffic, yes my purse was securely tucked away and they were kind enough to allow me my own thoughts and compose myself. Gusty you say? Yes, but no bad feeling this time and it was okay. He let me off by the grocery store close to where I was going. I thanked him for his generosity and kindness.

I have been to Ghana about 4 or 5 times now and this is the first time such an experience has happened. I know it does, it does in my own neighborhood in St. Louis, as we are now the #1 City in the US for crime. BUT, for every very ‘bad’ person, there are many, many more good. Disheartened no, not really. Not surprised either. Violated, somewhat but they didn’t get away with anything, I had done everything I could for prevention and during the attempt had done everything right. One just has to pay attention and trust those feelings.



Besides, this is no ordinary old lady with the big girl panties you are dealing with! They didn’t know that.