sure. wait. what?

Here in the city, there is a tall observation tower you can visit for just over $20. Every year they offer discounted tickets, but there’s a catch: you must take the stairs instead of the elevator to get to the top. 

There are over 800 steps, which may not sound much to some, but for me it’s a challenge. So today after work, I took the train to the tower and met up with my friend M. We began the ascent along with other folks who, like us, had nothing else better to do that afternoon.

Neither M nor I were in possession of tip-top cardiovascular stamina, so we had to take several breaks on our way to the top. The landings in between the zig-zagging metal flights were just wide enough for us and sometimes another person to lean against the wall and catch our breaths without blocking the flow of traffic. There were cheerful parents climbing with their kids, as well as sweaty gym types rushing past us like they were already on their third lap. There were also older folks moving at a glacial pace and happily sipping water through the straws coming out of their hiking backpacks.

Meanwhile, I was dressed in a button-up, slacks, and my office boots. It wasn’t in my plans to walk up a narrow staircase on a cold Tuesday, but when M messaged me earlier in the day asking if I was down, I figured: yea, why not?

I hadn’t seen M since last year, so once we reached the top of the tower, we took the time to catch up on each others’ lives. We spoke about typical mundanities: our jobs, our vacation plans, the ticking time bombs in our uteri (uteruses?). M also said that all she’d been doing recently was preparing for old age, like eating more fiber and working out. “That’s a good way of putting it,” I told her.

We planned on playing video games more often (she got a new laptop) and going to a escape room with our other friends (good luck scheduling this though). Before heading down the tower, we walked the full 360 loop around the deck to witness the city in its miniature beauty.

I had seen the view before so it didn’t wow me, but, to be honest, city views don’t typically do much for me anyway. Even the view from the Empire State Building was mid in my opinion, but I’m also horrible with directions so I find no fun in spotting buildings and attractions from a bird’s eye view. That’s just me though; some people get a kick out of it.   

M and I parted past 6pm. We could’ve taken the stairs going down, but we chose to take the elevator. Walking out the tower and getting hit by the chilly spring air was a bummer. Back to the chaos, I thought. 

Fortunately, downtown traffic was no longer as thick as molasses in the evening. I got home on schedule, and I did my typical weeknight routine: dinner, shower, journal.

M sent me a selfie she took of us with the cityscape in the background. We were smiling, our faces faintly glistening with sweat under the sunlight.

So we can remember how our younger selves looked when we’re old, she said.

True haha, I replied.

I must say: not a bad way to spend a Tuesday.