I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no stranger to stupid things. While I consider myself a somewhat intelligent person, I just do stupid things from time to time. These things range from cutting my own hair to filming myself singing along to Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend.” (That’s a story for another day.) Today’s event is just the next in what will probably be a long line of stupid things.

stairsAs you may know, I work on the 17th floor of an office building. When it comes time to take my lunch break, I head downstairs to the concourse level to eat and read a book. Today towards the end of my break, the fire alarm was going off. This didn’t directly effect me as it was going off on the 10th floor. As a result of the alarm though, the elevators were shut off. I finished up my chapter and I was ready to go back upstairs. I walked to the elevators and saw a bunch of people standing around waiting. So it was then and there that I decided that I’d just walk up the stairs. How bad could 17 flights be?

Well, first off, it wasn’t 17 flights. It was more than that. I started in the lobby level which is like floor number zero so I had to walk up one flight just to get to the first floor. I also found out that there’s two mechanical floors somewhere between the 7th and 9th floors so that’s two extra. That was about the time that I realized that this was a horrible idea. I persevered though. I just kept going. The floors counted off as I continued my march up.

It was at about floor 14 when the fire alarm shut off and they announced that systems would be restored soon. I answered this by flipping off the intercom. Double bird actually. I kept going.

It was when I reached the 17th floor and opened the door that it really hit me. The opening of the door was met with the ding of the elevator as the doors opened and some of the people I had seen waiting downstairs filed out. I plopped down at my desk after getting some water to gulp down. I figured that my legs would turn to jelly as they were already pretty tingly. Then I’d get up in a half hour or so and then just fall over. Fortunately that didn’t happen.

I think the kicker to all this is that I came home to my 4th floor walkup and then had to go out to get the laundry and walk back up those stairs. At least I’m home now though. My legs will probably be sore tomorrow, but at least I’ve got a funny story to tell.

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