Lessons with Weldon

10 things I heard from Weldon at tennis practice

10. NEW! QUEENS 10, 9,8,7....321.
9. Back to the baseline (this is accompanied with a flick of the racquet to make you move)
8 . Move your feet
7. Keep your eye on the ball
6. Get your feet set before you hit the ball
5. Where were you? (This always accompanied with a look of disbelief that you didnt follow your partner)
4. Move your feet!
3. Hold your racquet out (does that mean that the last ball was mine?)
2. Keep your head still
1. Move your feet KAREN.

Doesnt he know that I am nicknamed Concrete Converse for a reason?

Gotta love that Weldon.

Sunday September 9

Our first match of the fall season. We had 3 husbands in attendance and lots of kids. The day was sunny. The skys were bright and we were confident in our line up. I looked to the left and gauged the competition for line 2. Uh oh, I had seen that tall girl before. I looked at our team and sighed with relief. Christine, our team runner, was playing her and Marcy would make quick work of her short shots. I looked to my right to judge line 1. Linda and Piper! Yep it was going to be a good match. Jackie and I clicked our racquets and began to play. We were neck and neck with these ladies. At this point I was still pretty confident. And I was right....we won the first set. The second set began as I noticed how sunburnt I already was. I looked up and noticed that many of the spectators had moved inside to the air conditioning and we had lost 1 husband and a couple of kids. Still feeling pretty confident in the 2nd set even as they passed us. Suddenly it was 2-5. My serve. Jackie was having chills. I asked her...should I throw it so we can break between the 2nd and 3rd set? No she replied...let's keep fighting. First serve and suddenly an overwhelming urge for a cig. I could see that Jackie was struggling with the heat. It was a very quick game. Into the air in the clubhouse we went. Snacks for all. On hindsight, the carrots were not a good idea. A smoke and then back out into the heat. Again, the carrots were not a good idea. Our finally set was 3-6, bad guys won. My thought as I was walking off the courts..."I'm just glad I didnt yak the carrots."

From our view on the hill, I looked out to see how line 4 were doing. Wow..Casey and Linda R were on fire! The whole time I was watching them, I kept thinking how much they had both improved over the summer. I wanted to feel sorry for myself because I kept thinking...where the heck did my game go? But then I noticed my stomach sitting in my lap and knew the answer....I had been eating real good this summer instead of playing tennis. Keri and Mary's game caught my eye. Wow they were playing really well. Playing T2 had really solidified their game.

Unfortunately, duties called and I had to leave the match. I sit here tonight wondering how well we did today. Did Linda and Casie win? Did Mary and Keri win? I will find out in practice tomorrow night. I smile to myself when I think of Weldon. He always makes me smile, except when he hits those dang short shots. Weldon!