Weird Wednesday

I grew up in the great state of Oklahoma. If you aren't from Oklahoma, there are some things you must know:

• 'round here we might have an accent. None of us believe it, and don't understand why some people think "y'all" is a funny saying. 
• Yes, we are an obese state. But when you have places like Eischen's that specializes in selling whole fried chickens, how can you blame us? We know good food.
• We are friendly. When I drive around 71st and Memorial on a Saturday, I'll probably beg to differ. However, if there is one thing I have learned in my travels--- it is that we are one of the few areas of the U.S. where people are nice or considerate to strangers. I don't know how many times I've told a stranger how may day is going, or waved and smiled at them as we walk past each other.

So why does this matter? Well, it is what makes this Weird Wednesday topic tick:

When you and one other person are alone on an elevator and don't speak to each other.

There is about a two second period of time where you can establish communication. If that two seconds passes and the only communication was an awkward eye glance followed by an intense interest in your watch, then you are doomed for 30 seconds of awkward silence. And it feels just like this:

 

I must admit, I am guilty of this myself. Sometimes, I freeze and don't know what to do. I'm trapped in a metal box. I hope and pray that the person next to me will save the day with a great piece of small-talk. Anything. The weather, the day of the week, sports, heck I'd even accept breaking out into song High School Musical style (though I must admit, I've always secretly wished for my life to be a musical). Being from Oklahoma, I just expect communication with strangers. This silence throws me completely off my game.

Sometimes there just isn't any avoiding it. And apparently there will never be a solution...

Darn.

Three Thoughts About Elevators.

1. I wonder what it was like when elevators didn't have sensors to keep the doors from shutting on you. I have almost lost body parts even with the sensors. I wonder how many elevator-amputees there are in the world. Seriously.

2. The elevators at work like to mess with me. Example: Get in elevator. Press 5. Appear on 4. Realize you are on 4- step back into elevator quickly while thinking thought #1 above. Appear on 2. Realize 5 button is no longer lit up. Press 5. Appear on 1. Press 5 again. Finally, appear on 5 but cauciously walk out of the elevator, paranoid that the elevator is lying to you.

3. The elevators at work all smell like citronella. Either people are camping on the roof, or they realize that mosquitos follow me wherever I go and wanted to protect me (or the other innocent bystanders I work with).

I have been in the elevators a lot today.. Could you tell?

:)