Setting and Place

I usually open the Oregon City elevator early in the morning. It’s still dark out and windy. You hear the wind before anything else. A few people come through, mostly regulars. Same faces most days. They’re going to work or walking. Someone will say good morning, but not much else. Everyone is kind of half awake. The elevator is just part of their day, nothing special.

Later on, it changes. More people show up, and they’re not locals. Tourists come in and stop instead of walking straight through. They look around, take pictures, and read the signs. Some ask questions about how old the elevator is. By then, it doesn’t feel routine anymore. It feels like a place people came to see, not just use.