Proud

It's not ordinarily my style to "toot my own horn". I would ordinarily be much more inclined to stand squarely right in the middle of humility. But lately, I've been feeling so proud of how far I have come just in the past year or so.

Just a couple of years ago, Gerry and I played with a mixed doubles group at the tennis club in our former town. I had never played doubles before. I didn't really know how it all worked, where I was supposed to stand, about changing courts after games, how to keep score. And it showed. I was the weak link in the foursome, and I hated that! I never wanted to play doubles again.

This summer, my level of play has increased so much that I have begun to feel proud of myself. A member of my women's doubles group referred to another female tennis player, Jodi, as one who "plays with the big boys." Not long ago, Gerry and I played with Jodi and her partner and won!

About fifteen years ago I broke my right ankle. When the cast came off, I had tendinitis for a long long time and could not run. Eventually, I began to think of myself as someone who cannot run. This summer, I have become a fierce runner. The thing is, you would not look at this short, stout, little old lady and think she could do much at all on the tennis court. But you would be wrong. I run from side to side fiercely. I play at the net. I am quick. I am not the weak link in a foursome any more! I make about the same number of mistakes as everyone else; no more!

This morning, Gerry was going off to work and I was going off to play women's doubles. He said to me, "Play like a lady." I asked, "What in the world do you mean?" He said, " When you play with me and return balls, you hit like a man." What a compliment!

I am so proud of myself that I have become an "athlete" who loves to compete, who can play like a man, and occasionally win!