Quality time with co-workers...

Yesterday I got stuck in the freight elevator, with a cage full of rats. I was moving along briskly, thoroughly occupied with reviewing my plans for the day, and everything I'd have to do to make them proceed smoothly. "Got the rats, they're so cute!...food, water bottle, OK, we're out of here." The freight elevator stopped right on cue, doors opened, and we got on. "Push the button,...going up!" ...and then it stopped. Only peripherally aware that it hadn't gone up as far as expected, I watched in mild consternation as it registered the first floor, then the call panel went off...no lights. Hmmm, what to do now... I've been in elevators which stopped unexpectedly before, but it was a first for this building, and this elevator. "OK, press the alarm call button; it's there for a reason". I pressed.No noise.Maybe its a silent alarm" "This is a patient area, maybe they don't want disturbances..." No. There was no electricity to the panel; therefore, no alarm sounding. OK, turn everything off, and back on again." The panel lit up, I pressed the button for my floor, and had two seconds of optimism before it all went dark. "Hmmm, let's try that again." After the third try, and the third failure, I was beginning to feel apprehensive. I imagined scenarios where the maintenance staff would discover me and my cage of rats, holding enlightened conversations, after hours, and days locked in the elevator. Just as I was considering screaming loudly, I felt something tugging at my wrist, and looked down to discover my rat buddies were industriously hauling my lab coat through the bars into their cage. They like my perfume, and had been tickling my wrist while they sampled it. Occasionally one will try a tasty bite, just to get the full flavor. Someone who's functionally blind at 20 inches, as albino rats are, relies on their other senses to investigate their world. Here I was, stressing about being stuck in the elevator, and they were happily exploring! More of that perspective thing... I took a deep breath, and pried the elevator doors open. Whether it was nervous energy, or a nice side effect of my recent paver-shifting activities, I was able to pry them apart far enough to liberate myself and my rats. The elevator was about eight inches above the corridor. I made the short drop, hoping I wasn't observed, and started off down the corridor, breathing a sigh of relief.Yet another of life's small adventures!