I suffer from a condition that my friends named "lift adrenaline". It's an inability to not talk when faced with the silence of being in a lift with others - it's especially unfortunate that I usually say something stupid or inappropriate. Here's a brief anecdote about a recent attack.
7.30am, Cosmopolitan Hotel, Las Vegas NV - I'm taking the lift from the casino to the 4th floor. Another guest of the hotel enters the lift. She's dressed casually, early twenties. Unfortunately for her, she briefly makes eye contact. I reciprocate a smile, but it quickly disappears as I feel a charge of lift adrenaline and I begin the internal conflict to overcome it. A maximum of two seconds have elapsed with the lift doors being shut. It feels like a lifetime. I'm fighting to not say anything and appear normal.
Obviously I fail.
"Is your day starting or ending?" I ask. It is meant entirely innocently, but immediately "lift regret" kicks in and I'm concerned that this will be perceived as some sort of "line".
"Just ending" She laughs, looks at me in more detail and asks "you?"
She's clearly being polite and I exhale a brief laugh. I am dressed as preppy as they come in chinos, gingham shirt, and a whopping great name badge hanging around my neck. I could not be more corporate. I'm floored with the realisation that this is a very different Vegas experience for me.
I recall a trip to Vegas about 10 years ago, playing blackjack at 8am (following a big night and an all you can eat breakfast), chatting to the world's worst bridesmaid. Her sister was getting married in 3 hours time and she'd been up all night and was now playing $5 blackjack with some English idiots.
But you know what? I think I'm ok with it. I wanted to be at the conference. I wanted to be fresh of mind. I struggle to stay awake after 10pm anyway. On another day, it could have triggered a mid-life crisis but I sort of chuckled to myself in a "you kids" manner and prepared myself for a day of presentations, strategy sessions and networking.
The lift doors opened and I exited invigorated by this coming of age. My only fear as I left was whether I had broken my gaze at the woman as I considered all of this. Knowing lift adrenaline, I suspect not.
