Quote of the Day: “Nature arms each man with some faculty which enables him to do easily some feat impossible to any other.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tennis has been such an interesting part of my life. On one of our first dates, Joe and I went to play tennis. I had never really played except, as a child, on the occasional summer afternoon, with nothing to do, I would hit the ball against the garage door or brick wall. We had wooden tennis racquets enclosed in their wooden holders hanging in our garage. But after watching Jeni play tennis as a junior, my Mom and I started playing tennis and then Lynne joined us. I have such fond memories of those early days. We never really took lessons, we just tried to play. I don’t even think anyone showed me how to hold a racquet but pretty soon more balls landed where they were suppose to and then after joining the Sportsmall, I signed up for Ladies’ Day. I started at the very bottom and gradually made my way to the top level. Those were my “glory” days of tennis. I had no fear of ratings or how other people saw my game, I just totally loved the sport!
And Lynne and I were a force to be reckoned with. We usually won our matches. I think we just expected to and we were a great combo. One summer, as 3.5 players, we won 5 tournaments in a row, and all while Lynne was in her second tri-mester with Tess. When rankings came out that year, we were the top 3.5 doubles team.
And then when I was at Skyline and they needed a Women’s Coach, I was the perfect fit. I loved those times of growing a team. Skyline was rich with girls who had put in the time, lessons and money to be top players but my strength came in growing a solid team of players below those top girls. Because I ran an organized ship, more girls joined and we built a team based on solid principles of teamwork, integrity, and sportsmanship. Older girls mentored younger girls. Of course, we had girls from time to time who tried to stir things up, but it was always a reflection of that girls self-worth and the majority of girls understood that. I put in ten years giving it all I had, which was why, when I retired from coaching, that I felt so satisfied. I had built a great program and had given some girls a positive high school experience and maybe even a lifelong love of the sport.
Tuesday, as I watched the Tennis & Tutoring (TNT) kids play their second match, in their matching sport shirts and shorts, donated by my friends and the Jensen family, I felt so happy. Katie, who has a gift with kids, was instructing the double’s teams as they played and it was so satisfying to see them having this experience. After the doubles team finished a close match, Ricardo wished he could play longer, sweet words to a tennis coach. And, every day, I marvel at how things work out, small miracles really. I purchased enough red shirts and shorts for the boys but had an extra set that I had bought previously. Ricardo’s little brother, Tony who is 7 years old, was watching us and I could tell he so wanted to be part of this tennis thing so I gave him the extra outfit and then I was able to find a used racquet for him and I showed him how to hit a forehand. He was a natural. While one match was still going on, I saw Tony hitting the ball with Jocsan on the next court. I was amazed how well he hit the ball. Working with these kids enriches my life. Alex, Katie and I feel so vested in these kid’s futures.
Lest you think we think that this is all about tennis, we don’t. We understand that tennis is just the vehicle, if they can have positive experiences in this aspect of their lives, others will follow. I talked to Esli about playing when she gets to high school. She is going into 6th grade this year and I hope we can keep her going with tennis through junior high and then high school. That is the hope, that in junior high, in those hard years when friends become all important, that tennis can be an anchor. But for now, we are establishing deep bonds. These kids deserve all the great things life has to offer. And in helping them, we understand that we help the whole world.
TNT Tennis Team: Summer 2012
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