Elevators
In light of today’s news that window washers at the World
Trade Center were trapped on the 69th floor, I feel fortunate for
elevators. I’ve always thought that window washing is kind of a dangerous job.
I mean, just from the naked eye, you are dangling from a plank-like platform
supported by a pulley system. The washers don’t have like safety equipment, or
backup safeguards, there’s no safety net at the bottom of the building
supporting them. What if birds come into play and bother the workers? What if a
sharp object cuts through the rope supporting the platform? At hundreds of feet
in the air, anything can happen……..not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure,
and definitely not for someone who has a fear of heights like myself. I can
barely manage to walk onto one of those see-through windows at the top of
touristy buildings that force you to conquer your fear.
Where would be all be without elevators? That’s the
question. I am fortunate enough to work in one of the fanciest buildings in
L.A. with one of the best elevator systems in the world. Unlike the mechanic
crank-it-up elevators that some older buildings still use, the U.S. Bank Tower
building works only with buttons, and nothing works unless you have a clearance
badge. The building doesn’t have just have 1 elevator, or 5 elevators, or just
15 elevators. It has 24 elevators to the building’s various floors, 6 in each
corner of the main entryway that neatly divides each section of the building so
that no elevator gets too crowded ( Floors 1-19 get one elevator, 20-40 get
another one, etc.) All 6 elevators actually work, which gives a nice momentary roulette-wheel
sensation of “which elevator am I going to ride in today?” and even if you miss
one elevator as the doors are closing (who hasn’t had that happen to them),
there’s almost always another elevator ready to go, especially if you’re on the
ground floor. A foolproof system, and even if somehow someone couldn’t figure
out to push the “up” button summoning the elevator, there’s always a friendly
building security personnel person nearby to contact, 24/7. I’ve strolled into
the building on Friday night/Saturday morning after a night of strolling around
the town and those guys are definitely still there, manning the post.
The space inside the elevator also exudes efficiency and
professionalism. Buttons are touch-based instead of having to jam one’s finger
repeatedly, and a nice TV screen gives today’s weather, time, and the latest
news (where I found out about the window washing debacle) of the day while the
car is moving upwards at a fast but smooth pace (no jerks, no jolts, no shaking,
no sudden stops, a very smooth ride). Possibly the only part of my commute to
work every day that doesn’t involve any traffic (there’s car traffic, parking
traffic, even pedestrian traffic between my parking lot to the building). If
you feel like it, though, you can wait and go up with someone else, as there
are various other floors throughout the building. I often see other people get
off and marvel at the entryway of their floor as it might be a different color,
have a different ambiance, etc., and wonder what their world is like, how their
work day will unfold. Each stop on the elevator is like opening a small glimpse
into the lives of others. It’s really a privilege to ride these elevators, not
just a perk of the workplace.
On the next edition of “Why I am spoiled…..” all-inclusive
car washes that clean BOTH the inside and outside of your car!” (Who knew?)
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
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