Tennis

It's been over 10 years since I picked up a racket. There was always too much going on, and I left tennis in the dust. Something most of you don't know (except for Megan, Whitney and maybe Katie J) I played tennis in high school.

A little background: My freshman year I never lost a tennis match, as well as my sophomore year. My Junior year I lost 4, and My senior year 2. I had an absolute blast. I learned how to play by hitting a ball up against our garage. I used my parent's old rackets, wooden, very heavy, and with a very small face. I was embarrassed that I was the only kid on the block with a wooden one in a golf course community. I think my parents wanted to check my commitment level before buying a nicer one. The older rackets actually made me a better player.

That racket made my swing stronger because of it's weight. It made me center the ball on the racket's face better b/c of the smaller face. It was the perfect training tool. Also, because my dad had a very logical rule to not hit the ball up against the wooden panels of the garage door, I had to aim for a two foot brick strip between the garage and above windows when practicing. No, I didn't ever break a window. This taught me to aim.

Later, actually, almost exactly 15 years ago, my dad urged to apply for a tennis teaching position at the parks and recreation center. I got the job and learned all about the details and proper words on how to prepare for the ball, when and where to make contact with it, and follow through. Priceless.

So today, I went out to visit this old friend. I will try to visit more often. I am sore today and so mind boggled at the whole thought of taking it up again. The crazy things you do before you turn thirty. YIKES!