JM

Kim and I went to a house warming party for a co-worker last night. He, like probably 90% of 08′ers*, lives in an apartment building and resides on its second floor.

This apartment building had a central stair case which twisted upwards around a central shaft elevator. Also all elevators in Stockholm of these types have a 3 person limit. So, on our way to the roof, me and two other people clamber into the elevator and get ready to go to the roof. However, a fourth gentlemen starts stepping into the elevator as well. Despite our shouting of “No! 3 people only! Serious! Wait!” he stumbled in.

When the sign said “3 people only” it really meant it.

As soon as his other foot hit the elevator floor the counter weight was out done. The lift door still open the elevator started moving downwards. At this point, all I can recall thinking about was hoping that the last guy was all the way in because we were going past that opening and I didn’t want him half in and half out. Shudder.

The next concern is, of course, “oh shit, this isn’t going to nicely stop…” However, I was hardly able to finish that thought before SMASH and we’d arrived at ground floor. Holy Shit. Elevator was still in tact and no one was dead, but lights were blinking and we were half way into the floor — not at quite the right level with the floor outside. We’re all standing there and one of the other guys who had dropped a beer on the floor, decided to pick it up. Upside down. Pointed at my pants. Sigh. After a few moments collecting his sanity, the fellow at the front finds the handle to open the door and we all step out.

End of the story: I’ve survived being in a 2 story drop in a small metal cage of death with 3 other men and I managed to walk away with nothing more than some jitters and a long beer stain down my pants.

Fun.

* 08 is the Stockholm extension. It’s like saying “I’m a 415er” for people in San Francisco