Elevator Talk

The elevator to my office runs at a pace befitting a convalescent home. The three level trip takes an ungodly long time, and on arrival the doors take their sweet time opening. The stairs are an impossible alternative since both the entrance and exit to the stairwell are locked. All this leads to some awkward conversation.

The office on the second floor is filled with an odd assortment of characters. Some are nice enough and attempt to be friendly by saying things like "have a nice day" on their way out of the elevator. But without fail, the elevator arrives on their floor, they say their niceties, and acknowledge them with an equally friendly, "you also," and then we stand in silence for fifteen to thirty seconds waiting for the elevator door to open.

Now I haven't a problem with being friendly. Well maybe I do. But the point is, no one needs fifteen seconds of awkward silence while we wait for the door to open. I only wish these fools could hold off on being friendly until the elevator door was beginning to open.