I received an urgent call from my aunt. "Turn on the TV. Granny's on the Channel 10 news." It turned out that Granny had made a sandwich run for her office and was stopped at a red light downtown. She had the window rolled down to enjoy the breeze when a man rushed up to the driver's side window, intending to carjack her.
Now, what the would-be carjacker couldn't have known was that this woman simply wasn't "a granny". This was Nancy Johnson — the same woman who owned and lived on a Texas cattle farm, drove her own tractors, and dug her own post holes to lay fence. The week before, she had shot a rattlesnake and chopped off its head with a shovel. She was the proud owner of the new minivan she was driving. In other words, she was not your normal kind of granny.
The carjacker leaned into the open window, one hand stuffed in his pocket, and said, "Get out of this car. I have a gun, and I will shoot you." A statement like that would have terrified anyone else. Instead, Granny saw it as a challenge.
"If you really had a gun in your pocket, you would've pulled it out and led with that first," she shouted at him, apparently unworried.
She was right. The criminal didn't have a gun. He instead reached into the window, grabbed her, and tried to pull her out of the van. He pulled open the door, wildly catching Granny's arms. Granny leaned her shoulder inside to press the horn and started yelling to make people around notice what was happening. With the door now open, she held tight the steering wheel with one arm and started kicking the man anywhere her foot could make contact. This tall woman had quite a reach.
The bystanders took notice and ran to help. The carjacker, realizing his plan had backfired, fled the scene. Granny, on the other hand, was hailed as a hero. She had not only protected herself but also shown great courage in the face of danger.
The incident made headlines across the country, and Granny became a symbol of resilience and strength. She was interviewed on various talk shows, sharing her story and inspiring countless others. Her encounter with the carjacker not only highlighted her exceptional bravery but also served as a reminder that age is just a number when it comes to courage and self-defense.
Granny's ordeal also sparked a conversation about the importance of personal safety and the need for awareness in public places. Her story became a source of inspiration for many, reminding them to stay alert and not underestimate their own strength.
In the end, Granny's encounter with the carjacker turned out to be a testament to her unwavering spirit and the power of resilience. It was a reminder that age is just a number, and courage knows no bounds.
