 Stage stage = off;
 int i = 0;
 int x = 0;
-uint8_t var = 0;
-uint8_t valTop = 200;
+uint8_t topBrightness = 200;  // May preserve LED life if not running at full brightness 255?
 uint8_t rnd = 0;
-uint8_t r = 0, g = 0, b = 0, h = 0, s = 0, v = 0;
-int8_t stair = 0;
+uint8_t r = 0, g = 0, b = 0, h = 0, s = 0, v = 0; // red green blue hue sat val
+int16_t stair = 0;
 CRGB c1;
 CRGB c2;
 CRGB trans;

    EVERY_N_MILLISECONDS( 20 ) { gHue++; }
  }
  for (int tick=0; tick < 64; tick++){ 
    for ( uint8_t i = 0; i < NUM_LEDS; i++ ){
      leds[i].fadeToBlackBy( 64 );
      FastLED.show();
      FastLED.delay(1);

#define GO_UP -1                // Direction control - Arduino at top of stairs
#define GO_DOWN 1               // Direction control - Arduino at top of stairs
uint8_t gHue = 0;               // track color shifts.
int16_t gStair = 0;             // track curent stair.
int16_t gStairLeds = 0;         // tracking lights per stair.
uint8_t gBright = 0;            // track brightness
uint16_t gUpDown[NUM_LEDS];     // directional array to walk/loop up or down stairs.
int8_t  gupDownDir = 1;         // direction of animation up or down
CRGB    leds[NUM_LEDS];         // setup leds object to access the string
CRGBPalette16 gPalette;         // some favorite and random colors for display.
