Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being an elevator operator in Alcabideche is like riding a rollercoaster, but without the safety bar. So, I roll into work, right? It’s a sunny morning, and I’m thinkin’, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
First off, I’m at the building on Rua da Liberdade. You know, the one with the weird mural of a cat wearing sunglasses? Yeah, that one. I’m just minding my own business, pressing buttons, when this lady storms in. She’s fuming, like she just lost a fight with a blender or something. Turns out, she’s late for a meeting at the café on Avenida da República. I mean, who schedules a meeting at a café? Priorities, people!
So, I’m tryin’ to calm her down, right? I’m like, “Hey, it’s just an elevator, we’ll get there.” But she’s not havin’ it. She’s pacing, and I’m just standing there, thinking, “Lady, I’m not a therapist, I just push buttons!” Finally, the doors open, and she bolts out like a cheetah. I swear, I almost got whiplash from her energy.
Then, it gets crazier. This dude walks in, right? He’s got a skateboard under one arm and a coffee in the other. Classic Alcabideche vibe. He’s all chill, like he just came from the beach or something. He’s like, “Yo, can you take me to the top?” I’m like, “Sure, but no tricks in here, man.” He laughs, and I’m thinkin’, “At least someone’s having a good day.”
But then, as we’re going up, the elevator stops. Just stops! I’m like, “Great, just great.” I hit the emergency button, and it’s like the universe is laughing at me. I can hear the guy behind me, “Dude, this is so not cool.” I’m like, “Tell me about it!” I’m sweating bullets, thinking I’m gonna be stuck here forever.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the doors open. I’m ready to kiss the ground. The skateboard guy zooms out, and I’m left there, just me and my thoughts. I’m like, “What did I do to deserve this?”
After that, I take a breather. I step outside, and the sun hits me like a warm hug. I stroll down Rua da Escola, and it’s packed with people. Kids are playing, old folks are chatting, and I’m just soaking it all in. Alcabideche has this vibe, ya know? It’s like a small town with big city energy.
But then, I see this guy trying to parallel park on Rua da Liberdade. He’s struggling hard, like he’s trying to fit a whale into a bathtub. I can’t help but laugh. I mean, come on! It’s not rocket science! Finally, he gets it, and I’m like, “Dude, you did it! Gold star for you!”
As the day goes on, I meet all sorts of characters. There’s this sweet old lady who tells me about the good ol’ days when Alcabideche was just a quiet village. She’s got stories for days, and I’m just nodding along, thinking, “Man, I wish I could’ve seen that.”
But then, BAM! A group of teenagers bursts in, blasting music from their phones. I’m like, “Seriously? In my elevator?” They’re laughing, taking selfies, and I’m just standing there, rolling my eyes. I mean, I get it, but come on!
By the end of my shift, I’m exhausted but happy. I’ve seen the best and worst of people today. I’m walking home, and the sunset over the hills of Alcabideche is just stunning. I stop for a minute, take it all in, and think, “Yeah, this is life.”
So, that’s my day. Full of ups and downs, just like the elevator I operate. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Alcabideche, you crazy little town, you’ve got my heart.