escalator

The elevator drops us at the 5th floor, then need to take escalator to the 6th. Utoh. I followed signs to Stairs, down a long hallway to find a warning sign. Not sure if the warning meant an alarm would go off if I opened it, I went back to the escalator and tepidly stepped on the first moving step.

I had not bothered bringing a tote bag, just a plastic bag with Reader's Digest and some note paper in it. It is a long escalator, or tall one, and hard to cling tightly to the railing. I contemplated turning and sitting and regretted not just getting on it with the elevator crowd. People behind me in case I started falling backwards.

I never had an escalator phobia. Think it started visiting Universal Studios. It feels like the force of gravity is going to pull me downwards. How embarrassing. Get the same feeling with steps, but can ~ rather, used to ~ be able to, run up them. Going down steps is not as much of a problem. But those escalators! Fought the panic that follows the fall backwards feeling, praying to reach the top faster. Hurry, hurry, oh please, hurry and get me off this thing.

When orientation guy asked for questions I asked him about stairs. He asked me to repeat question and gave me one of those are you daft looks. Yes, I could have used the staircase at end of hallway and was much relieved to hear that. I almost blurted out about my inability to take the escalator. No I was not worrying about emergency exits; maybe that is what he was thinking.