Tennis & Life...

I was at the health club the other day. Miss Peach was in her tumbling class, and The Little Man and I were hanging around outside the pro shop (it was raining so we couldn't play outside). There were all these women, totally decked out in tennis gear. They really took over the lobby. They were loud, animated, and very dressed. I'd say the average age was 40. These ladies were gabbing and stretching, and I couldn't help but notice them.

Now let me interject here and tell ya, I am a pretty darn good tennis player, actually to quote my coach "I rock". I spent a good part of my younger years playing jr. tennis. Tennis was the place I fit in when I was growing up. Think Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink. That's how I grew up. I remember driving through Country Club Lane (in the beater car I nicknamed "The Crate") and just gazing at the mansions and wondering what it would be like to live in one of those houses. I remember wondering if I would ever make it to that side of the tracks. Truth be told, I have no idea how my Mom (single Mom of three) scraped up the money for me to play tennis, it was/is not cheap. She did it, and I played. I played on jr. teams. I played on travel teams. I played in country clubs we would have had nowhere near the amount of money to be members! I remember a tournament in St. Louis where I stayed with a family that had an elevator in their house...I just thought that was soooo insane! I have always said tennis kept me out of trouble as a kiddo. When other kids were stepping in sh*t, I was on the tennis court. I played until the lights went out, and sometimes I'd turn the headlights of the car on and keep playing. I did it, because I loved it. Tennis was where I fit in.

Now, there I sat watching these women and I actually thought "they must be better than me" how could they not be, they sure looked the part. What! Where did that come from? Finally, they moved on to their court, and The Little Man and I went on playing. As I held The Little Man's hand and walked him to the tumbling room to pick up Miss Peach, I looked over the railing down to the tennis courts below. There were the ladies on two courts. Can I tell you...they sucked! They were awful! I almost had to hold in my giggles.

In case you're wondering, I made it to the other side of the tracks. No, I don't live in a mansion, but I have a lovely town home in The Big City with a private patio, and parking. In The Big City, that's a lot! I guess I'm just saying, if your one of those ladies decked out in tennis gear...and you find a chick in running gear on the other side of the net...watch out...she's gonna kick your a**!

20 comments

  1. And I know you will considering I also picked up the price of the other side of the tracks tennis club, summer tennis camps and let you go to the other side of the country to pay for a college.

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  2. I'm one of those women! approaching mid-40's, suck at tennis, but LOVE it. The people around me are in the cute little outfits, I'm just trying to find something that fits relatively well and can hold my second serve. Don't judge us. I'm sure you could kick my a**, but it's the only time I get out of the house for ME.

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  3. I love this post I too was the other sid eof hte tracks girl and I have done well as well but i don't thnkof myslef as one of them. Know what I mean???

    Spors totally saved my but from being in trouble growing up.

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  4. Haha! I love this post! It is music to my ears.
    I was one of the other side of the track girls as well. :)

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  5. Your mom rocks to provide you with all those opportunities so that you now can kicks those a$$es! (:

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  6. Great job on AFF's new header, btw!

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  7. I'm the opposite when it comes to tennis. I sucked and I knew it. Plus I was pretty chubby and out of breath for most of the lessons. I used to pray for rain!

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  8. While I was never a great tennis player (even though I wanted to be), I was never part of a Country Club crowd either. You're lucky to have such a great mom! :)

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  9. Way to go Nap. Knock their little skirts off next time you play there.

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  10. Love it!
    I totally suck at tennis, and if I ever go to play, I'm wearing a t-shirt and basketball shorts. Please don't kick my a$$ ;)

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  11. First time commenter. But you are right! Money can't buy talent.
    I, um, suck at tennis by the way.

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  12. I really want to play tennis, but after reading this post, my fears have come true, I am too afraid I would be one of those women that suck. Wah!

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  13. Great post! It's like the one's at the gym that are wearing the total gear, but dying after 20 minutes into kick-boxing.
    I was on our hs tennis team, but sucked (as did the "team).

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  14. Love this post! I'm the other side track!!! Totally relate!!

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  15. That sounds like me and skiing. I may suck at it but I've got the accoutrement to make it look like I can ski. Andy on the other hand wears jeans and a sweater (because he never falls) and could have been in the Olympics.

    "It is better to look good than to feel good."

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  16. I kinda know where you're coming from. Growing up I took lessons at a CC. and thought I was hot stuff when I got to get a coke inside the pro shop after my lessons while I waited for my dad to pick me up and take me back to our little farm. I played thru high school and then started having ankle issues in which I finally had fixed 15 years later. Now I'm married to the club pro and play at a pretty established tennis club in our city. I kinda fit in because of my game, I'm a USTA team captain, and the fact that my husband is respected around there and all the other ladies take lessons from him. But I'm still just the employees wife. You can see a line that has been drawn in social settings and to be frank, I really don't have much to chit chat about with them. Nothing in common. I'm not a "pony tail". I'm a build like a brick s**t house and can serve better then most of the men in the club. But I don't drive a BMW or a Lexus so I'm on still on the outside looking in. But I really don't mind, I've been there most of my life and it's really not a bad view.

    If your ever in Austin we should hook up for a match.

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  17. Great post! I went to tennis camp when I was younger, but I have not played in years and years. I know I suck. And I would love to have the body to wear those little tennis skirts!

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