Trick elevators. Alternate title: Elevators that will make you pee your pants!

Yup.  There are trick elevators in this world.  There's one in Atlanta, GA, as a matter of fact.

I believe I was in college, at a writers conference or something like that.  We're in this big hotel and conference center and my room is on the 26th floor.  Fun, right?

It was.  Except the elevators.

They were glass and the middle of the hotel was open.  So as you go up, you see the lobby get smaller and smaller below you.

I don't like am terrified of heights, remember?  I was too scared to climb down a seven foot ladder when I was little, even if there was a banjo case/baby coffin next to me.

But I got used to it. I learned to keep my eyes looking straight at the buttons until the 26th floor.

Until I took a different elevator.

It seemed normal at first.  In fact, it looked exciting because it didn't overlook the lobby as it went up. Bingo.  An elevator that's not glass!

It was a glorious ten seconds.  I was on cloud nine.  I didn't even stare at the buttons waiting for the 26th floor.  I started reading something and even leaned against the wall.

But then we hit the 3rd floor and suddenly, everything got really bright.  And I fell over.  Almost.

This elevator was on the outside of the building.  And it was definitely glass.  Definitely.

I lost all self composure and hurled myself at the other side of the elevator.  I'm sure the other riders thought I was completely nutty.  I was.  It was worse than flying, which is terrible for me.

Have you been on one of these?

Okay, if you're thinking about at the mall or something, yes.  That's a glass elevator, but not quite what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about the ones that are scarier than the Drop Zone at an amusement park.  Mainly because this is your view:

The above is not my picture, but it's just as scary as what I encountered.

I did not make it to the 26th floor.  I got off around floor 7 and decided that it was a work-out kind of day.  I took the stairs, and stuck with them for the rest of the weekend.

When I was looking for a picture to satisfy how scary this elevator really was for anyone who hasn't been in one, I found this:

For the record, I would completely lose it, fall over, and need to be taken to the hospital if I landed in this one.  I sure hope they have a sign on the front of it that says, "Warning: The bottom of this elevator is glass."  And possibly make people sign a waiver.

So what's been your experience with these stupid things?  Did you know it was glass before you got on?  Did you pee your pants get scared like me?

And if you enjoyed it, then what is wrong with you?

Over and out!