Last week we were in Boston. We stayed with our daughter and her husband while checking on the progress of the house we’re building. They live downtown on the fifth floor of a quaint 1864 building. They love it. We love it, too, but there are challenges.

Quaint Building

Early Friday morning, after my husband and son-in-law had left on a man mission, the teeny-tiny elevator in the charming building took a permanent break between the second and third floors. As I comfortably slept, my daughter and grandpuppy were stuck in that elevator. At 8:00 a.m., she burst into the bedroom, looking flushed. “Didn’t you get my call? My voicemail?” I looked at my cell phone. I did get it, but I didn’t hear it because of the noise from the window air conditioner. “I was stuck in the elevator for an hour and a half!” she cried. “The emergency crew put a ladder down to get us out. I’m late for work!” Good mother immediately jumped out of bed and comforted the distressed child. All the while I was thinking I would have died if I had been stuck in that munchkin elevator!

Infamous Elevator

The adventure didn’t stop there.

That evening my daughter, her husband, and the puppy left for Long Island for a four-day visit with his parents and to attend a wedding. My husband and I kept busy going to and from our new home site. We walked down stairs – five flights of stairs – 87 steps. We walk up stairs – 87 steps – while the elevator was being fixed. We used my daughter’s car. She neglected to inform us the air conditioning was NOT working. Did I mention the weather was extremely hot and humid? We were driving around in a sauna! Was I having fun in the fun city of Boston? NO!

A Moving Sauna

 There’s more.

Being good parents, we went grocery shopping to restock the refrigerator. We bought wine. Wine was good at that point, but taking groceries, wine, briefcase, and building samples up five flights of stairs was NOT good. My husband double parked in front of the condo. We dumped everything at the bottom of the five flights of stairs. While my husband hunted for a parking place. I brought bags up the stairs. I got three bags up the first 25 steps before my husband joined me. Together we climbed the hot, stuffy stairway to heaven. He took the heavy stuff. I took the light stuff. By floor three, I was breathing hard. I sprawled myself out on the steps and admired the intricate woodwork on the walls while I caught my breath. It’s a beautiful building, but as I prayed for a burst of energy to make it up the last two flights of stairs, I also thanked God I didn’t live there!

Stairway to Heaven

The Finale.

While putting the ice cream away, I discovered watery ice cubes and a tender pork tenderloin. Freezer on the fritz! Smorgasbord for dinner! After our not-your-ordinary meal, my husband and I topped it off with a bowl of chocolate ice cream soup!

Downtown living may be charming and filled with excitement, but there are unexpected challenges with every step you take. It’s good to be home!

Check this out!

Boston:  A Photographic Portrait by Stan Patey (Twin Lights Publishers, 2004)