Love

Some of you have heard the saying, "love means nothing in tennis". I have lost all three of my tennis matches so far this season. It is kind of uncharacteristic of me to lose so many in a row. I am not trying to brag or overstate my ability. I am not the best tennis player in the world. In fact, without my tennis smarts I wouldn't be all that great at all. I started playing tennis when I was 16 years old. Prestonsburg High was starting a team. Fortunately, I was a fairly talented basketball player and athlete. I was asked to join the new team with my sister. I had hit some with my Mom who was a physical education major. My best friend, Lee Bob, was my most consistant practice partner. My sister and I would form a bond that is unbreakable playing tennis together. We loved and hated each other over this very emotional sport. I had no formal training but my Mother bought a video about how to play winning tennis. I watched and immulated the instructor to the best of my ability. Later in life, I would meet this guy in Boca Roton, Florida when he was teaching a clinic for a country club. I was #2 by the end of the first season in High School and # 1 my senior year. I went to a travel agency school in Miami after High School and then decided to go to College. I didn't really want to go to school but I knew I didn't want to be a travel agent. I had spent too many years playing basketball, thus I was burnt out. I am only 5'6" and I was too short anyway. So I decided to walk on the Eastern Kentucky University tennis team. Coach Sandy Martin was a wonderful woman who was extremely patient. I started practice and she never asked me to leave. Some of the more talented players on the team quit because they were done with tennis or they were having too much fun with college life. After all, we were going to be practicing and playing tennis around 3 hours a day during the season. I worked hard and I became a pretty descent player. I was taught to be our doubles specialist. Until one of our senior players had some problems. She wasn't able to finish the season and I was the 7th player and moved up to 3rd to fill her singles spot. At that point I learned how to fight hard against these tough scholarship players. I lost most of my singles matches that year. I learned how to be a team player and play with tons of heart and soul. So that everyone else could hold the seed they were playing and have a better chance as a team. If my memory serves me right we ended up in second place in the Ohio Valley Conference. I played my sophomore year and I was a legitimate #5 seed and I won a few more matches down there where I belonged. I loved college tennis, but there was one problem, schoolwork was getting harder and I was trying to fly as much as possible. I also worked part time in Lexington at the Hyatt Regency as a hostess on the weekend. My second season we were away more often and I took most of my tests in the office of the professors. I didn't get to attend many of my classes because we were on the road playing matches. Travel was not glamourous, we did not get to ride in an airplane. We rode in a small van up to Michigan and down to Florida to play our regular and conference schedule. Prior to starting my junior year, I received my flight instructor rating. I made a tough decision to concentrate on aviation. I went to my Coach and told her that I couldn't continue with this kind of schedule. It was one of the hardest conversations that I have ever had. I loved the girls team and Coach Martin. I also loved the game of tennis. It turned out that it was a smart move to concentrate on flying. I graduated with over 1,000 flight hours. That flight time helped me get a job flying larger equipment and eventually led to my profession as an airline pilot. From 1991 through 1999 I only played tennis casually with whoever would get out there and hit with me. Mostly, guys from my apartment complex and occasionally I could get Mike out there. He has never really enjoyed tennis. It is painful for his arm and doesn't really mix with rock climbing. I did play a few little tournaments and I always dreamed of getting into a league. Finally, we moved to North Richland Hills and I found this great tennis center on the side of the the highway. I took some drills with a nice lady named Cynthia. She hooked me up with some women who were in leagues. I joined them all and I fell in love with the team aspect again. This time It was different but I eventually learned the style of tennis that is ladies team tennis. You have to be smart and learn to control yourself. The harder you hit the ball the better shot they hit back. This is when smart tennis became a priority for me. I have been team captain, and I have traveled hours to play one match. Occasionally, I fly to play tennis too. I love to talk to my friends about their matches and I sometimes feel like a tennis counselor. One of my favorite tennis partners, (Becky) and I will analyze our match for hours. We love the aspect of teaching and learning new things. I turn 40 next month, and I am not the young ringer anymore. It is hard to get older, slower and more fragile. I am trying to come to terms with my ability. Losing has never been this devastating before. I still love to go out there and hit those fuzzy balls for three hours. I am blessed that my life is so uncomplicated that losing is so devastating to me. Some people have bigger things to worry about such as basic survival needs. I have decided that for me, love mean everything in tennis.