Climbing The Stairway To Pain

Every Day
Our house here in London is lovely. It was built in the 1920's and has 3 floors. The house has been expanded and updated in many ways. However, there are two things we would change, if we could. First, we would put a toilet downstairs. Second, there wouldn't be as many stairs!

When we moan about the 32 stairs to our bedroom, most people say something like "it's a great way to get exercise" or "be thankful you can still climb stairs". Now, both statements are true; however, most people forget that something begins to happen to the brain when you are in your mid-40's. Memory, or rather the lack of memory, begins to be a nuisance!

I do not know how many times I climbed those 32 stairs just to get to the bedroom and discover I have no clue why I'm there! At first, I would go ahead and walk all the way downstairs then I finally wised up. Now, I just stay in the bedroom until I can think of why I'm there. If it weren't for the baby needing other things, there are days I would be a prisoner in my room!

Stairs Vs. Escalator
I'm impatient.....there, I've admitted it. Isn't that the first step? So, why....oh, why do I get bad ideas in my head....know they are bad ideas but still do them? Let me see...."I do not know why I do the things I do. I do not do what I want to do. But I do the things I hate." (Romans 7:15) Yep, that sums it up!

I went to meet Skip at work and after eating supper we took the tube to catch the train home. At one of the tube stations, there was a long line of people waiting to get on the escalator. Now, there are stairs but no one was walking up. I got a bit impatient and decided to just take the stairs.

Let me take a moment here to explain how I travel with the baby. When I go into the middle of London I carry Christian in a baby backpack. Yes, on my back. I've gotten use to the added weight and I actually find it easier than lifting a stroller. Not all the tube stations have elevators and not all people are kind enough to help me when I'm on my own.

So, there I am with Christian on my back and I decided to be bold and just take the stairs! I begin climbing and it's not too bad. I mean, there are only 3 flights...right? I arrive at the first landing and I'm feeling the burn in my legs. I get half way up the second flight and now I'm ready to scream for help. But, I'm still in my right mind so I don't.

My pace is getting a little slower and I also start realizing that people are watching me. I then over hear some man talking with a friend. The conversation went something like this..."she's walking up the stairs"....(the friend says something I can't understand)....."look, she's walking and she has a backpack".....(the friend says something else I can't understand)....."she's walking up the stairs and she has a baby on her back!" Now, I feel the pressure to complete what I have started!

I'm so vain! I realize that I'm walking about the same pace as the escalator is traveling. Well, I can't let people SEE that I'm dying! So, I pick up my pace a little and try not to look like I'm gasping for breath! I hit the middle of the final flight and I'm acting like the Little Engine that could....."I think I can, I think I can, I think I can".

Reaching the top was like placing a flag on the summit of Mount Everest! I was so proud that I had finished! I just hoped that a slight breeze didn't come along and push me over. My legs felt like rubber and they were screaming with pain! I don't know how many steps I climbed. If I would have counted, I think I would have been prepared to just sit down and wait for the rescue people. I thought.....that was the dumbest thing I have ever done! Until...........

Do Not Use Unless There Is An Emergency
Traveling to the theatre to see BloodBrothers, I came across a tube station that was so deep underground there was an elevator for everyone going up to use. Not having traveled through this station before I also saw the group gathered waiting FOR the elevator. Then I spotted the door marked "stairs".

I thought about taking the stairs but decided against it. As I waited for the next elevator, the crowd began to swell. Seems everyone wanted to go somewhere and they all decided to pass through this place. So, I listened to the evil call of the stairs and went through the door.

As I entered the stairwell, I saw a sign that said "139 steps". I have 32 steps in my house! How bad could 139 be, right?

Other people decided not to wait on the elevator and suddenly a stream of people entered. So, of course....I wasn't going to turn around! I'm no chicken! I mean, if women in 4 inch heels can go up 139 stairs, I think I stand a good chance of finishing!

Sometimes, it's just not good to listen to the little voice in your head.

I walked up a couple flights of this spiral tower and I'm going slowly, pacing myself. I'm trying not to count each step. Then I hear the most encouraging thing in the world. A man's voice comes over the intercom. "Caution, there are 139 stairs. Please do NOT use the stairs. Only use the stairs in case of an emergency. 139 stairs is equivalent to a 15 story building. Please do not use the stairs." On average, a person is photographed 300 times in London. There are CCTV cameras everywhere. So, this warning is probably coming from a live person who, for some strange reason thinks that there will be no survivors on this journey. Not encouraging. I continue to climb and this man continues to usher his warning. Now, I'm taking this personally! Who does he think he's talking to??? I don't quit!

I'm watching the young lady with 3 inch high heels in front of me. I feel better about myself because she has to stop and rest. I take a moment to stop and encourage her. O.K...I'm resting because I'm tired.

Getting close to the top, this poor woman is ready for her boyfriend to carry her the rest of the way. I keep going and when I see light at the end of the tunnel, I have one final act of bravery. I turn, walk back down 10 steps to let this lady know she's almost at the end! During the middle of me saying something like "We're almost there! You can do it!" I hear some poor woman further down the stairs screaming....."help me!!!! help me!!!!!" It wasn't like a "someone is killing me" scream......it was a "I've listened to that little man over the intercom too long and have given up" scream.

There are times in battle when a solider will summon his last ounce of strength and go back for a fallen comrade. There also moments when that fallen buddy looks at his friend and says dramatically...."go, go....save yourself".

As I took that last step up on that glorious day, I listened to the screaming lady. Her "help me, help me" began to sound more and more like "save yourself". So, I plucked up the courage to save myself and leave.

Didn't I say I had already committed my final act of bravery?

(I know, I'm a horrible person. I just wanted my legs to stop hurting. Don't think less of me.)