An Afternoon of Vertical Transportation

The idea seemed harmless enough. Michael begged me to take him to Galleria Mall downtown Saturday afternoon for something to do. However, while a typical 14.5 year old would go to shop for the latest CDs and DVDs or cool clothes, Michael's highly anticipated agenda was to appreciate the vast array of elevators and escalators.

We were about 5 miles or so out on the interstate when Michael suddenly panicked.

Michael: "WAIT, I forgot my camera!!!"

Me: "Why do you need the camera??"

Michael: "I have to video the parking garage elevator. I haven't done that one yet!" You HAVE to go back and get it!!!

At the risk of attracting the attention of the traffic helicopters, we grudgingly obliged, returned home, grabbed the camcorder, and made our way back to the highway to our final destination.

Upon arriving at the parking garage, Michael's first order of business was to film the elevator located in it. This one apparently had eluded his You Tube collection and it was imperative that it be published along with the dozens of other mall elevators in his video collection. Now we had the complete "Grunge Parking Garage Elevator" series.

My husband grudingly accompanied Michael on his elevator and escalator field trips as Michael wanted to "show" them off to him. The plan was that I would entertain our younger son and we'd meet up afterwards. However, much like denying a drink to an alcoholic, Michael would not hear of leaving so soon, despite going up and down every escalator and elevator twice. Now it was my turn to experience this exciting activity as he wanted me to do the same "tour."

And so, we went up, we went down, we went up again, we watched the down escalator, rode the up escalator, watched the down elevator, went up the elevator, went down the elevator, watched the elevator, walked to the other elevator, went up and down, watched it from downstairs, watched it from upstairs, and well, you get the point. There is always some good to come out of something bad, and in my case, it was that I got to partake in my obsession, Godiva's Milk Chocolate Decadence beverage. You can take me on 25 elevators, but as long as I have this in my hand, I am oblivious to the world around me.