Our condominium building was constructed in 1960. The elevator services 11 floors and 23 units. It is serviced regularly but it is 60+ years old and every time there is a hiccup, we all hold our breath. Several years ago it was down for several weeks while the motor was rebuilt and we were told then that the next time this happens it will be catastrophic because it is made of unobtainium. In other words, it cannot be fixed. When another hiccup occured in January we all agreed we were on borrowed time. The funds were secured through special assessment, the supervisor and contractor hired and the new elevator was ordered in April. Like everything else in our world, supply chain issue delayed it from an anticipated August install to the end of October. During this time, the residents have discussed how to handle our day to day activities without our beloved elevator. Supplies, groceries, garbage etc. While everyone will be effected in some fashion, the upper floors face the most daunting task, at least in number of stairs to climb. I have been paying close attention and am now painfully aware of how much I depend on the elevator. I didn’t realize how often I forget something. Whether it’s in the basement getting into our storage or as I walk down the 1st floor corridor to my garage, I realize I have left my keys, or phone or whatever and need to “pop” back on the elevator to “8” and retrieve what I forgot. It makes me shudder now because the “ride” will become a hike up 8 or 9 flights of stairs. You get my point. Everything you have at “Point A ” (car in the garage) that needs to get to “Point B ” (your 8th floor home) now requires a minimum 96 steps. There is a silver-lining, at least I’m telling myself that. Exercise. I need to and I don’t-simple as that, but with the elevator looming over my head that wishful-thinking is going to change. The difference (advantage ?) here as opposed to other “resolutions” is I don’t control when it starts so It will happen. To gage the impact I will do a before and after “weigh-in.” So, to start I weigh 215.5. At the conclusion, which is estimated to be 10-12 weeks I’ll do the same. We’ll see how a 67-year old handles it.

Activist

Noun-“a person who campaigns to bring about political or social change.” Living in the Salt Lake City suburbs-Cottonwood Heights and Holladay- for 30-years, my level of social activism was to vote. I’m not sure that there was much else going on other than taking care of the parking strip in front of your house, so in that regard I was a good citizen. What a difference a move makes. Since moving downtown, I have become acutely aware of issues I saw only on the news, primarily homelessness. Initially it was kind of like the forest and the trees. They were there, but so was everyone else. During the early stages of the pandemic, when only the “essentials” were allowed outside did I see reality. The city streets were a literal ghost town-except for the homeless. I was startled! They had always been there, just hiding in plain site. My other revelation was broader and partially a result of becoming a realtor and living downtown. The housing crisis, or should I say more specifically “affordable” housing crisis. Additionally, and a close-relative (in my mind) is zoning. Zoning for density, zoning for affordability, zoning for student housing and zoning for growth. With the pandemic came the gift of Zoom and the ability to participate in (or at least watch) from the comfort of your computer. Meetings had been available to view on youtube and web tv but Zoom offered real time interaction. The more engaged I became, the more I began appreciating the fact that only a small number of city residents actually participated,. I think most people care about what is going on in their city, but don’t have the time, the energy or inclination. My belief was that the input of the very few greatly impacts everyone, and it seemed to be developers were the most vocal and in the greatest number. This is what led me down the path to seeing myself as an activist. or at the very least, becoming more active in my community. Since I am on the city email list I wasn’t surprised to get an invitation to enter my name for consideration as a planner. You get three choices-1st, 2nd, & 3rd. Planning, development and transportation were my choices. Not saying I will even be considered, but you never get what you don’t ask for-or-no good deed goes unpunished.

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How to handle a mental health crisis

My oldest has been experiencing a crisis. It has been growing over the last several months and included a 4-week retreat in St. George Utah. Our hope is that it would help or at least improve the situation, or offer enlightenment or some sense of clarity. Because he seems guarded in what he shares with his mother and I, it is difficult to determine what the root cause might be and the same thing held true at the retreat I’m afraid. We are close, and he normally will share everything, particularly with his mom, but in this instance we think he isn’t forthright with everything bothering him. So his mental state continues to decline. He has always battled against being an introvert, but he is rapidly becoming a recluse. Some quick facts: he is a very successful entrepreneur that has spent the last ten-years developing, with his friend and business partner, a board, game or as it is often called, a “collaborative” game. It is a global success that stretched the limits of his emotional well-being. He appears to be completely ” burnt out” as a result. The other fact is all of his issues started to manifest themselves at the same time he started dating his now live-in girlfriend. Additionally, her previous boyfriend went through exactly what our son is going through. Coincidence? We don’t think so but he is blind to that prospect. He has had a therapist through this too. Initially we were thankful that a trained professional was in the conversation but the results don’t show any progress, in truth it might be worse. Trying to find a psychiatrist is proving difficult which makes the mood anxious for all involved. A positive development came from a friend and neighbor that Lisa had shared the situation with. Their kids have gone through a similar stretch and offered assistance in the form of connections, Both are doctors and the husband was most recently the CEO for the largest hospital chain in Utah, so their connections run far and deep. With their help, almost immediately our son received an email to start the process. We obviously hope for the best. As I write this he has spent the last 2-days on our couch watching TV,. I am conflicted. On one hand I want to be supportive and understanding, on the other I want to shake some sense into him. Fortunately we have his mom, who is smarter and more intuitive than me and will navigate appropriately.