Sometimes, even Dr Seuss can be scary

By Staff
Leada Gore, Editor
As with most plans, things started simply enough. The Gores would enjoy fall break at Universal Studios in Orlando, riding some rides, seeing some shows and generally taking it easy.
As it’s well known I’m a giant theme-park chicken, I didn’t worry about any pressure to ride anything that was scary and was confident I would spend most of my time holding everyone’s glasses as they allowed themselves to be turned upside down at high rates of speed.
So, it still seems a bit strange to me that I agreed to ride “The Mummy,” one of the park’s newest attractions. We had just arrived at the park and, emboldened by the successful trip, I was feeling confident.
Well, not exactly confident. I asked Greg’s son, Derek, who had been on the ride before, to assure me that under no circumstances was I getting on a roller coaster.
Because the attraction is inside a large building, I had to take his word for it. (See future column about taking a 15-year-olds word for things).
We hopped on the ride, spinning our way through rooms of scary mummies and fake bugs, but no giant hills or huge dips. Then, we wheeled into a dark room with a talking mummy. Flames filled the top of the ceiling, illuminating the path ahead. In front of us was a giant hill. We crept our way up the hill, with the horrible tick, tick, tick of a roller coaster sounding underneath. I gripped the bar and tried to imagine myself in a peaceful place. Just at that moment, the ground dropped underneath and we went plummeting down then around and back up. We curved around and then, finally, rolled our way back to the start.
It was over.
My hands were hurting from gripping the safety bar. My head was spinning and I left my stomach somewhere around hill two.
I didn’t say much, just stood up on shaky legs and swore never, ever to listen to either one of them again.
The remainder of the trip was more peaceful. They rode roller coasters; I fancied the merry-go-round. They soared through the sky; I drug them to song and dance extravaganzas. There was one more scary moment, however. I convinced both of them to ride a Dr. Seuss’-themed ride, something where brightly colored fish go around in a circle. We boarded the ride and then I learned the fish move up and down, rising some five feet off the ground. Once again, cold terror hit my stomach and my hands began to shake.
Who knew? I had overcome “The Mummy” only to be done in by “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.”

Hartselle

Hartselle students to attend Boys State

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

High scorers: 42 Hartselle students a part of ACT 30 plus club

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Hartselle projects budget surplus based on midyear numbers 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Planned Hartselle library already piquing interest 

Brewer

Students use practical life skills at Morgan County 4-H competition

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

After 13 years underground, the cicadas are coming 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Hartselle students collect pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House

MULTIMEDIA-FRONT PAGE

Priceville students design art for SRO’s police car 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Hartselle Junior Thespians excel at state festival 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

$15k raised for community task force at annual banquet  

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

4H Pig Show to be held May 11 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

‘We want the best’: Hartselle Police Department is hiring

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Council hears complaints about Hartselle business owner

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Priceville students design art for SRO’s police car 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Scott Stadthagen confirmed to University of West Alabama Board of Trustees 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Hartselle plans five major paving projects for 2024 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Future walking trail dubbed ‘Hartselle Hart Walk’ promotes heart health, downtown exploration 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Chiropractor accused of poisoning wife asks judge to recuse himself 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Hartselle seniors get early acceptance into pharmacy school  

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Farmers market to open Saturday for 2024 season

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Challenger Matthew Frost unseats longtime Morgan Commissioner Don Stisher

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Cheers to 50 years  

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Scott Stadthagen confirmed to University of West Alabama Board of Trustees 

Editor's picks

Hartselle graduate creates product for amputees 

x