Not everyone loves elevators. Most folks don't think about these mechanical lifts until they find themselves in a tall building needing to go up a few floors.
Most middle school students don't care to discuss how well an elevator levels. Or when crammed inside an elevator, they don't seek to find out the carrying capacity, the certificate, the brand name. They don't listen to the sound of the motor. They can't tell whether its an Otis Series One or Five by the shape of the buttons, the sound of the ding.
My son Elias is not like most people.
Ever since he could speak and move on his own, he has been fascinated by elevators. Perhaps, in part, because he couldn't walk without assistance; and stairs were not possible for his first ambulatory years, as Elias rolled with a walker, usually the destiny of aging seniors, not pre-schoolers.
People couldn't help but stare as this curly-haired blonde kid cruised past, with his shiny wheels, saying in his gravelly voice: "Abater, abater!" Elevator, elevator! As he be-lined for the silver doors that open and close with the push of a button.
We have spent countless hours in malls, airports, and hotels riding elevators to every floor. Whoever travelled with us, couldn't help but smile at our boy's enthusiasm for the ride. Up and down, up and down.
Even as a pre-teen, his fascination never dwindled. In the past year, Elias has discovered YouTube videos about elevators. He especially likes a channel hosted by a young man who, I would guess, is also on the autism spectrum. The host holds a rule not to film people, but rather all the mechanical aspects of the elevators he rides. And he seems to have a small following because he speaks directly to commenters when sharing facts about the counter weight or whether or not the elevator has been modernized.
Elias has finally found his tribe. But they live in a screen and Elias can't actually talk to them.
So a friend reached out to Otis, the only American elevator company left that builds, installs, and maintains elevators. And for Elias's 13th birthday, we drove up to Anchorage and met four folks from Otis at the airport for an insider's tour of the mechanics of various elevators-- glass, freight, we even saw the underbelly of an escalator.
We met in the big atrium of the airport by the halibut case. I told Mike Liebing, the Manger from Otis who set up the visit with me, to look for a blonde boy walking with canes; but I saw them first, three men standing side by side in their green Otis shirts, one of them holding a big paper roll that I would soon learn contained the inner workings of all things elevator.
I could hardly keep up with Elias, as his canes barely touched the floor, his body pulsing with excitement: "I'm gonna get to talk to people who know more than me about elevators!!"
As we introduced ourselves, Elias shook hands with Mike and the two other men in attendance, Mike Floyd and Dave Morris, the two mechanics for the airport. Too jazzed to even attempt eye contact, Elias announced: "We just rode the glass elevator!"
"Well, I thought we would check out the glass elevator first," Mike said.
"Yes!" Elias practically ran in that direction.
As Elias and the Otis elevator professionals talked about the mechanics of the elevator, I caught eyes with an older passenger sitting on a nearby bench with his rolling suitcase. The man smiled and nodded. A few minutes later he asked Elias's Grandma Kathy, "How does he know so much about elevators?"
"YouTube videos."
And thousands upon thousands of rides.
Along with the three men, Joy Sparrow, the Account Manager joined us. We shared smiles at Elias's elevator knowledge.
Mike Floyd put up yellow barricades around the glass elevator and dialed Dave (who rode down ahead of us) to call the lift down where a regular passenger can't send it, so Elias could see the top of the elevator.
The Otis crew blocked everyone else from riding the elevator just so my boy could better understand it. This in itself brought tears to my eyes.
The Otis folks led us down to floor zero, the under-workings of the airport, where you need a pass to get through the door, where workers ride cargo bikes around the rambling hallways, where the "governor" of the elevator lives, a speed monitoring devise that Elias learned about for the first time. Who knew an elevator needed a governor?
We all rode the freight elevator, saw the mechanical room, the circuit boards, and the different operating systems for hydraulic verse traction elevators, we smelled the big vat of oil, and for once, elevator experts could actually answer Elias's questions, ones that I often defer with: "I don't know, what do you think?"
Elias knew that Elijah Graves Otis invented the elevator and that the original passenger elevator he installed in NYC still works today. He knows the names for different working parts and all the different manufacterers--Otis, Kone, Schindler, ThyssenKrupp-- but he's never been able to share this knowledge with folks who really appreciate it.
"It's not every day we get to talk to a kid who knows so much about elevators, " Mike said. "I'm learning things today too."
What a gift, what a perfect way to celebrate our quirky boy; other thirteen-year-old kids may want to have sleepovers or sports-themed parties, bar mitzvahs or trips, for Elias, its nothing but Otis and the Elevator Constructors Union.
After our tour, that ended in the train station with a torn apart escalator Mike and Dave were working on, Mike Liebing said, "So we hear you just had a birthday,"
"I turned thirteen yesterday."
"Well, the guys got together and got you a few things."
A few things, is an understatement-- Elias is now the proud owner of his own Elevator Constructors Union card, a union sweatshirt with his name embroidered on the front, t-shirt, hat, and stickers, as well as an Otis hat, water-bottle, cup, small duffel bag, flashlight, pens, case, lip balm and I'm sure, I'm forgetting something.
And best of all, his very own "elevator expert" certificate.
Not only has Elias worn his Otis hat every day since, but he takes it off and holds it out to everyone he comes across, like a trophy, like gold, like the secret of happiness: "Look, look at this!!"
Now if only everyone appreciated Otis as much as him, my elevator boy, fascinated by mechanical boxes that rise.
But at least his tribe has grown.
***********
I am forever indebted to the kind folks from Otis's Anchorage office and Chapter 19 of the Elevator Constructors Union for sending Elias home with so many gifts; and to Mike Liebing, Mike Floyd, Dave Morris, and Joy Sparrow for taking time out of your work day to give my son Elias an experience he will talk about for years to come. You are proof of the good in the world, proof that compassion exists, thank you, thank you, thank you!
WOW- the best birthday gift ever for Elias!!!!
Posted by: Noel G Dennehy | 02/06/2017 at 04:18 PM
That's amazing! For Casey's 10th birthday, we got a private tour of the Jayco factory, along with the public tour. Same kind of joy! He has found lots of YouTube channels about RVs and he's starting to enjoy talking about the journeys people take and not just the specs, but I know he loves the specs the most!
Posted by: Meg | 02/06/2017 at 04:35 PM
One of my favorite things about working with kids on the spectrum is getting a chance to learn about their particular areas of interest. Over the years I've had the opportunity to learn in-depth about dinosaurs, wolves, trains, race cars, Australian cattle dogs, Catholicism, tornadoes, the Titanic, and the Hindenburg. I'm sure I'm leaving some out! Although I have to be the Bad Guy who teaches our kiddos about choosing conversational topics that others find interesting too, I do love to hear them talk about their passions. I'm sure I'd learn so much from Elias!
Posted by: Lisa Y | 02/06/2017 at 05:01 PM
Tears. What a wonderful birthday!!!!
Posted by: Ginna | 02/06/2017 at 05:31 PM
That is so incredibly awesome!! And a fanstastic piece of writing too. :)
Posted by: Candice Christensen | 02/06/2017 at 07:20 PM
During these times of political strife and worry, this story brings tears and joy in the good of people.
Posted by: Judy | 02/07/2017 at 07:31 AM
Happy Birthday Elias!
Where is the first elevator in New York?
I'm going there this summer and will try to see it!
Posted by: Nancy Alvarez | 02/07/2017 at 07:41 AM
What a wonderful birthday! Happy birthday Elias!
Posted by: Lee | 02/07/2017 at 10:34 AM
Okay, I am crying.
Was having a crap day and now I got the happy tears going.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story.
Posted by: Danielle in Zurich | 02/08/2017 at 08:10 AM
This is so awesome. I can only imagine how excited he must have been. Please tell him Mr. Pustina says what's up and happy birthday!
Posted by: Matthew | 02/08/2017 at 08:44 PM
So happy for Elias - what a wonderful birthday experience! Your writing about it seems to flow from a place of joy, and draws us in. Super!
Posted by: Linda Medsker | 02/11/2017 at 08:17 AM
How incredibly interesting and cool for everyone! It is awesome that he has such a passion for elevators...who knows, he may even improve on it someday! Happy 13th Elias. What a special day and special people that made it possible.
Posted by: Fleming | 02/13/2017 at 05:10 PM
Love all your comments and have shared this post and all your words with Elias who just smiles and tells me more about elevators:)
Otis's first successful passenger elevator is in the E.V. Haughwout building on Broadway and Broome st in NYC.
Posted by: Christy | 02/14/2017 at 09:50 AM
Oh my goodness Kristy, love, love, love your blog! Elias has those 'glacier blue eyes!' I am so loving your sharing of who you are as a woman, the love for your husband, your son and your family! You are astounding. So very glad to have met you and so glad to work with your husband. Thank you for being so brave sharing your life...
Posted by: Nancy Yeaton | 02/14/2017 at 02:29 PM
WOW! This made me cry happy tears! What an amazing group of people! I am so happy for Elias.
Happy Belated Birthday, Elias!!!
Posted by: Kris H. | 02/15/2017 at 06:31 AM
I am thrilled to read of Elias journey. I have a friend (who was once a business partner of mine) who is an elevator project manager. He too has cerebral palsy, but that has not stopped him from becoming a great elevator leader. He is currently managing elevator installations in Tennessee.
I have been in the elevator industry since 1978. It is a good career path and I would love to see Elias follow his fascination of the industry. Way to go Otis team!
Posted by: Robin Mann | 02/28/2017 at 05:49 AM
Nancy, i loved meeting you too! You are such a warm soul!!
Birthday wishes sent Kris.
Robin, you comment made me a little teary this morning---thank you so much for sharing the story of your friend!
Posted by: Christy | 02/28/2017 at 06:56 AM