Going up?

I hate driving to places I have never been downtown. I get anxious about finding it, legally parking, and especially in the snow today - will the sidewalks be cleared?

So, I venture out on an errand for my boss today. Deliver a package. Simple enough, right? While driving there, with my valued GPS, I wondered if the snow plows allowed any street parking in front of my destination... would I find the front entrance with this sun in my eyes?

As I am approaching, I see a HUGE warehouse/building with the title of the business on the rooftop in letters taller than me, assuring me I am going the right direction. And, out front, visitors parking... and cleared sidewalks! aaah, I am in the clear. I don't mind running an errand that goes this smooth!

As I approach the old building, I realize the title of the business is etched into the stone above the entry way... how many businesses downtown are original to their building? Very few. Intriguing...

I take some stairs up to a lobby with a bunch of closed doors. I check each door - locked. Each one. I am confused, so I try each one again. Fail. Then, I see the elevator in front of me... but no signs directing you to which floor to choose to reach the offices. Weird.

Well, I press the button next to the elevator and as I wait I game plan: "Okay I am gonna stick my head in the elevator, and if I don't see a sign designating what is located on each floor, I am stepping out. Do not put your entire body in the elevator. No creepy, abandoned warehouse elevator rides for me... I must have come in the wrong entrace."

As I am contemplating all of my options, the door opens... a man inside says "going up?" I tell him who I am delivering a package to and he says "come on in, right up stairs." I board the elevator and realize, no, this not a good samaritan but an ELEVATOR OPERATOR! He turns the crank to move the elevator and pulls back on the lever as he sees we are approaching the correct floor, slowing the elevator down.

I deliver my package and he returns me to the first floor. As I am walking to my car, my head is filled with questions... What the heck kinda company needs an elevator operator? Is it for show? necessity? security? Does he just stand in there all day? How can I get a job where you sit all day waiting for a single passenger?

As I sat in my car, I was confused. When I got home, I was confused. As I write this, I am confused.

I am so thankful for the weird things in life.