Elevator

When we were in California in May, I had a very frightening elevator experience. As I have gotten older, for some reason unknown to me, I have become slightly claustrophobic. This small fact plays a big part in this story.

We were leaving our hotel for some adventure (Disneyland or the zoo I think) and I realized I had left my cell phone in the hotel room. So, while Tim was buckling Tyler into his car seat. I returned to get it. Because we were parked near the lobby, I went up the lobby elevator (not the elevator we normally used).

I pressed the button for our floor and it went up just like normal. When it stopped at my floor and it came time for the door to open - - it didn’t open. I could hear it trying to open, but the doors in front of me stayed shut. My heart started pounding as I banged on the door open button. To my dismay, they stayed closed tight.

I was in a complete panic. My hands were sweaty, I was shaking, and it seemed as if the oxygen was being sucked out of the small square space. I was pounding on the door open button. I could hear the door moving but it stayed shut. I tried to pry the door open. . no such luck.

I had finally resorted to pressing the alarm button when a movement caught my attention. I whipped around only to see another set of elevator doors opening and shutting behind me. It was one of those elevators with doors on either side. I don’t know whether I felt more embarrassed or relieved. Thank goodness nobody saw me . . but then again it could have really made someone's day.