The Sky’s the Limit: My Journey with Maryellen

Maryellen really wants to go to Cypress Gardens, and Mrs. Larkin really wants peace and quiet, so I don’t suggest we stay home. I follow Ellie, Carolyn, and Beverly to the girls’ bedroom, where we put on bathing suits under our clothes, grab bathing caps, flip-flops, and towels, and hurry to the driveway. The station wagon isn’t big enough for everyone, so Ellie and I ride with Mr. Larkin in Jerry’s hotrod, along with Joan.

We climb into the jump seat of Jerry’s convertible. I’ve never ridden in one before, and I’m as excited as Maryellen. Carolyn, Beverly, and Tom pile into the station wagon with Mr. Larkin, and we wave goodbye to Mrs. Larkin, who looks relieved to be left home with only the turkey and sleepy Mikey for company.

Jerry floors it, and the convertible zooms off. I close my eyes and tilt my face to the sun. Maryellen says he’s driving like Fireball Roberts, who won the Daytona Beach race this year. Jerry sighs that he wishes we were going to Gator Land in Kissimmee instead, so he could answer Joan’s “Where are we?” with “Kiss-i-mmee!” Joan laughs and kisses his cheek, and Maryellen groans.

We fly along Highway 27, the Orange Blossom Trail, and reach Cypress Gardens about an hour later. As we get out of the cars, a peculiar feeling hits me: I feel like I’ve been here before. The canals, bridges, gazebos, waterfalls, lake, flamingos, butterflies, parrots, and iguanas all look strangely familiar, and so do the “Southern Belles” in pastel hoop dresses like those in Gone with the Wind.

Maryellen nudges me and asks if I’m okay. I stumble over my words, insisting I feel like I’ve been here before, though that’s impossible. Maryellen laughs and says it’s probably because of the movie filmed here, “Easy to Love,” starring the famous swimmer Esther Williams.

That’s it. Gran is a big Esther Williams fan, and Emma and I watched “Easy to Love” with her, though we rolled our eyes at how silly it was at the time. Now I’m glad I saw it. Gran’s old movie transported me back in time almost as well as my watch did.

Maryellen asks if Gran loves the movie because she’s been here. I admit I don’t know. There’s a lot I don’t know about Gran. Mom told me she traveled to exotic places for her job as an archaeologist, so I’ll have to ask if she ever came to Cypress Gardens.

Mr. Larkin calls that the show is about to begin, and we find seats on the bleachers facing the lake. This beats any special effect I’ve seen on TV because it’s real. A skier named Alfredo Mendoza launches off a 100-yard jump, lands on one ski, does somersault flips and helicopter spins, skis backwards, then finishes barefoot on the water.

Maryellen whispers that if I think he’s good, wait until I see Willa Maguire, a ballerina on water skis surrounded by other ballerinas in tutus and tiaras. They perform synchronized ballet at full speed, forming pyramids, twirling flags, skiing backwards, even balancing on just a foot looped through the tow rope, all while smiling like it’s effortless.

Emma would go crazy for water skiing. Too bad skiing is mostly ruined for me now. I wish I could keep the parts I love, like the cold mountain air and being with Emma, and lose the parts I don’t, like ski team and racing.

A voice on the loudspeaker announces a ski school after the show. Children age six and up can become “Ski-lings” and take an hour-long water-skiing lesson, meeting at the dock on Lake Eloise.

Carolyn, Beverly, and Maryellen turn to Mr. Larkin, asking to go to ski school. Carolyn wants to ski like Elvis Presley, and Beverly wants to be a ballerina like Willa Maguire. Maryellen exclaims that she and I should be “Ski-lings” together.

I shudder at the thought of skiing in any form, but Mr. Larkin says it’s a good idea, no time like the present. The girls cheer, I smile a watery smile, and Mr. Larkin hands Carolyn money for the lessons.

Joan and Jerry go off on a romantic boat ride, and Mr. Larkin takes Tom to the restaurant for a snack. Beverly says it’s a good thing we all wore bathing suits under our clothes, then hurries after Carolyn to the ski school dock. Ellie and I follow.