Halleluyah, an elevator in the subway!

It was a joyous day the other morning when, as usual, I exited the subway and waited at the bottom of the staircase for the crowd to clear before ascending with my stroller and my 21-month old strapped in. On this day, the woman who turned around, who I thought was my daily savior offering a hand, said to me, "you know you can use the elevator," to which I replied, "really?" and she pointed down the platform. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. Was she right? Could this be? Could the elevator that had been under construction since before I was pregnant really be finished and working now that my son didn't even want to be in his stroller anymore? I'd given up hope so much so that I hadn't even checked on the status of it in a couple of months.
 
I headed to the elevator and sure enough it was carrying passengers up. I felt like I was in the scene of a movie where the sun was shinning down on me, birds were fluttering about, and a chorus was singing "Halleluyah, Halleluyah, Halleluyah, Ha-Le-lu-yah!" I pushed the button to go up and after a few moments the doors opened. I pushed the stroller in, my son looked around, and we were lifted up a level where we off loaded onto a ramp and were on our way.
 
Of course, there is still the matter of what I call "the short staircase" of about 8 or so steps to get to a concourse where we walk to the other end and get on another elevator.

But who cares? I was just so thankful that I'd never have to carry the stroller up that darn staircase in that station from the platform again, at least not until the elevator breaks.
 
I wanted to run up to every person I passed to tell them, "it's working, it's working, the subway elevator is finally working!" I kept my excitement to myself but as soon as I walked out of day care from dropping off my son, a little less exhausted and sweaty than usual, I called my husband to share the news, then my mom, then a friend. Each time I started off by saying "I have the best news to tell you" or "the greatest thing happened this morning."
 
Now I've also discovered that all this time there's a closer elevator that I can take that's just beyond where I exit the subway to take me up to the street. While it takes me a couple of blocks out of my way, it means I can even avoid "the short staircase". I discovered it after a detour on my way home the other day and my husband has since asked me if I was using it in the morning and I said no. But since the weather was nice I decided to try the stairless route from the subway to day care. Talk about a glorious thing! My son was, of course, all smiles, as if he even noticed how happy I was or why. If only he could have the same appreciation for our new route that I did.
 
Now if only we could get an elevator at the subway stop near our apartment.

This is an original post to NYCMoms Blog. Debra lives in the Upper West Side with her husband and toddler son.