The Day I Was Esther Williams
By Margery McCurdy Plummer

It had to happen! It just had to. Our grandchildren, boy and a girl, became very good swimmers at a very early age, so it was only natural that Nana and Papa and the children’s Mommy and Daddy all go together on a swimming party to share this most fun thing in the world.

It had been more than several years since I had been swimming and although I was a pretty good swimmer, my first thought when Hannah suggested gleefully that we go on this party was, “Not on your life.” I then realized that’s something you don’t say to a grandchild. “Maybe later,” I said trying to sound as though I really would like to go but a bit later. That wasn’t the right answer either.

“Next Saturday,” she countered. “Come and pick us up.” What could I say? “One-thirty next Saturday,” I said, and that was it.

I almost panicked as I dug into my “unused” box for a swim suit. The suit was a navy blue one piece with little pink flowers on it and mercifully, a short skirt.

The big day came, and we got our swimming “attire” together, and we were off. When we arrived to pick up the members of the party, they were all ready and eager to go, our “best in the world” daughter in law, the two grandchildren, but one member was unprepared. He sat in the recliner, a pained expression on his face, saying something about a little headache. He said this as he looked into the television screen. Summer, Saturday and baseball! He’s a good daddy, so we let him off, headed for the car and to the pool.

The others were into the pool immediately, splashing, swimming, and having fun. I could feel it.

“Come on in, Nana,” they said. I sat in a chair near the edge of the pool with something called a “cover up” thrown loosely around me. They swam up to the edge of the pool, water droplets shimmering on their eyelashes. I couldn’t resist. Just a little bit like Superman throwing his cape behind him, I threw (almost) mine behind me and experiencing delight that comes only with feeling like a child, I plunged in!

I was swimming, splashing with all the family, “Oh Nana, you can really swim, and your suit is pretty. You look good.” This from the grandchildren! Suddenly I was in a dream. In a water show. Remember Esther Williams of a few years back. A movie star and swimmer supreme? In the movie, she was always in a many colored lighted pool, swimming in all directions, dancing with other swimmers with flowers woven into their hair. I was Esther Williams! At least for a while.

The party was over, the dream was ending, “Time to go home,” Papa said, maybe just a little envious of his son watching the ball game. What fun we’d had, and to think I’d almost missed it.