The other day at work, the elevator was shut down temporarily while a urinal was being installed … and it got me to thinking.

This being a new year and all, perhaps I should make a commitment to deviate occasionally from the usual subjects and tackle weightier, headier matters in this space — you know, important stuff like …

… oh, I see, I suppose I should backtrack a moment.

The urinal was not being installed in the elevator. Sure, it might be convenient for some of us guys whose bladders have seen better days — although performance anxiety might surely kick in between the time the doors close and the ping is sounded announcing your arrival to the next floor.

Instead, the urinal is being installed in our men’s bathroom as it was being remodeled to double its occupancy, and that required shutting down the elevator for reasons that involve the proximity of plumbing to the shaft.

At least, that’s what I think I heard. I was mostly concerned with making my way up and down stairwells — hoping to avoid being locked out, or in — which is where I found myself thinking about deviating from the usual suspects and, instead, tackling weightier, headier, important stuff.

Such as peach fuzz.

No, not those wispy little hairs that show up on your face that indicate you’re not old enough to grow a beard. Neither are we discussing Capt. Peter Peachfuzz, affectionately (and accurately) known as “Wrong Way” for his abilities as a sailor as demonstrated in the documentary series “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.”

The peach fuzz in question also has a nickname, although not as descriptive as “Wrong Way.” It’s known as PANTONE 13-1023 (no wonder they changed it) and its claim to fame is that it has been named the Color of the Year for 2024.

There are pretenders to the throne — mostly from paint companies that, in a stunning development, want you to buy paint — but true connoisseurs of color honors know that it is the Pantone honor that rules the roost.

Peach Fuzz is either a mellow orange or a peachy shade of pink, depending on your Yanny/Laurel proclivities, but that barely scratches the surface of how Pantone suggests 13-1023 will change your life in 2024.

“Subtly sensual,” the color coordinating company’s description begins, which makes you wonder why it believes this coming year is one where we’ll need either subtlety or sensuality.

But that opening is only a precursor to the stress-laden expectations to come.

“PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz is a heartfelt hue,” the release continues, “bringing a feeling of kindness and tenderness and communicating a message of caring and sharing.”

Are they crazy? Don’t they realize that this year is going to be dominated by red and blue? How do they think that a subtly sensual mellow orange is bridge that battle of the primaries?

Here’s how:

“(PANTONE 13=1023 is) a warm and cozy shade highlighting our desire for togetherness with others, or for enjoying a moment of stillness and the feeling of sanctuary.”

Oh.

Look, we all know that a mere color cannot change the world. If it could, then 2023’s Color of the Year — Shirley, you remember 18-1750 Viva Magenta — would have done so, since it was “brave and fearless, a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration. … (reveling) in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint.”

That’s not exactly how I remember the most recent 12 months, but your results might vary — depending if you dress in shades of white and gold, or navy and black.

All of this was occupying the lateral occipitotemporal gyrus of my brain as I was walking the wrong way up (or down) the stairs as I was headed to (or from) the temporary bathrooms to which we were given access while the elevator was out of service when a urinal was installed.

The new urinal by the way, is a chalky shade of white — although, while it satisfactorily provides a moment of stillness and the feeling of sanctuary, there’s nothing about it that could be considered subtly sensuous.