Elevator NDE

My unexpected houseguest, Ashley, and I took an unexpected lunch trip to the Tombs on Wednesday, and on our way back, we took the elevator, not the stairs. Now, I know it seems a bit overdramatic to label an elevator trip as a Near Death Experience, but I have a flare for that sort of thing. The Nevils elevator is not known for its lack of shadiness, but with each lurch and successful emergence at the correct floor, I somehow gained confidence in it. All until that fateful, post-Tombs trip. This was no slight lurch, but a full on shuddering tremor. Twice. Each time, a glance up showed the lights threatening to drop. The elevator staggered and then stuck, staggered some more and then came to a final wavering and precarious halt, obviously stuck on something that either kept it from moving to our desired floor or kept it from slipping downward fearfully. Obviously, I’m as big a fan of the stuck-in-an-elevator experience as the next person, and my abilities to stay rational in various mildly exciting to even averagely frightening true life situations are impressive, if I do say so. But whether it be from irrationality or frightening truth, I actually felt there was a chance, perhaps small, that the elevator just might not hold. Hence, the labeling of “Near Death Experience”. The repair man couldn’t open the doors because they were stuck, so we got one last final lurch as he messed with controls before it slipped into place and the doors opened. Fabulous. I’m totally up on the whole, trapped in an elevator situation, I mean, what a story, but I think I’ll stay clear of this one for a little while.