Elevators

Last night Ryan got home at like 3am. (Not so unusual for a football coach.) Instead of watching film though he was at a banquet with a huge amount of high school and college football coaches. This morning he was telling me about one speaker in particular with whom he was very taken with. Of course, as usual, could I tell you his name? No honey. I wasn't listening to that part. (Excuse me, but the new Lady Gaga song was on the radio.) Anyways, he said the coach said something like, "Friends are like elevators, they either take you up, or they take you down." Ryan was going on and on about some other happenings at the banquet, and as the new Lady Gaga song ended, I began to think about the elevators in my life. I started to think about my family, of course they are the biggest elevator in my life. (Mom, you are the first person I thought of.) Then I thought back to the last year, and how so many more "elevators" made their way into my life. And it seems as though as I get older, ok 27 isn't ancient, I realize how those elevators heading down really take a toll on you. (At least as I get older I can recognize the south heading elevators faster.) I thought professionally, at my job, about the elevators that are more like mentors, and teach and encourage. (Shot out to you Nichole.) Those are one type. Then I thought about the elevators who have served as second Mom's and Dad's out here in Monmouth, that help with the kids and regularly attend my fitness classes. (Shot out to you Wayne, Merilyn, Tom, Carly, Brian, Dawn...the list goes on.) That's a whole different kind of elevator, one you didn't see coming, but are so thankful is taking you up a floor. I also thought about the elevators you don't see a whole lot, but you know if you call on them, they will surely take you up a floor if you need it. (Love you Heather and Madison.) Finally, I thought about my husband. I thought about even during the season when our time is very limited together how he is the biggest elevator in my life, I could be basement level and he always can take me to the penthouse suite. Then, lastly, I thought how awesome it was that I get an elevator that is constantly going up a floor for the rest of my life. Somehow, that makes dealing with the few that I meet that are heading South a lot easier to manage. I wonder what kind of elevators you're taking a ride with?