Sunday, January 18, 2009

Excuse me, can you tell me where the restrooms are?




DC is under siege! By port a potties. These pix are from the National Mall on Saturday morning. I had a one day gig down in the middle of the craziness as a "VIP Escort" for an event. In my duties I had to take coats and take people up the elevator to the 5th floor. I did NOT get to escort Jon Bon Jovi when he arrived and got a tour. I had to resist the urge to stalk him as part of my professional duties so I never did get to see him. I did have to take other people up and down the elevator. Remember VIP in DC means members of Congress, big donors, as well as timeless rock stars. Sadly, I had to work the first two categories instead of Bon Jovi. On my last trip, the elevator got stuck. I didn't know I was terrified and claustrophobic until the very moment the elevator came to an abrupt stop and the emergency buzzer went off. The 10 other people in the elevator (VIPs that I had promised cookies and coffee to if they would only get into the elevator with me...) were made up of 5 children and 4 adults. And one security guard. Lesson : Never take up an offer for cookies from a stranger.
The museum had just been renovated after 2 years and re-opened in November. This was the FIRST DAY the elevators were ever used - way to get out the kinks when 1 million people are arriving! After my initial heart attack, I politely inquired to the big beefy security guards outside the door to please "OPEN THE %$#&*^%ing DOORS FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!". Tho I may have been slightly more polished in what I actually said, that was what I was thinking as they kept asking us to push the the 3 inch opening shut from the inside...Before I became as unhinged as the elevator doors, they forced the doors open and I bolted from the elevator and proceeded directly to my car. My one day of work in 2 weeks was very traumatic.

The highlight of the day beyond learning I am terrified of crowded, hot, enclosed spaces was hanging out with some of our founding fathers and Presidents - Tom, Abe, GW (the original).



1 comment: