Turning Points
Life is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. All along its path are events, places
and people who are turning points. Here, I relate some of these turning points in my own
journey. Hopefully, the stories will illuminate and maybe entertain some of those who care
enough to read.
Life is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. All along its path are events, places
and people who are turning points. Here, I relate some of these turning points in my own
journey. Hopefully, the stories will illuminate and maybe entertain some of those who care
enough to read.
| Double Fault August 18, 2006 |
I really don’t know what got us started with
tennis in Louisville. But in high school Butch and
I would go over to Shawnee Park near the Ohio
River to play. The court was concrete of course,
with weeds growing up though the cracks and a
net that was well past its prime.
We used rackets bought from K-Mart that were
made in Pakistan. They cost three dollars and
that was cheap even in that day. Neither of us
tennis in Louisville. But in high school Butch and
I would go over to Shawnee Park near the Ohio
River to play. The court was concrete of course,
with weeds growing up though the cracks and a
net that was well past its prime.
We used rackets bought from K-Mart that were
made in Pakistan. They cost three dollars and
that was cheap even in that day. Neither of us
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had taken any lessons but that didn’t stop us from slamming the ball back and forth at each other.
Our matches were competitive in the extreme. Butch was a better tennis player than I and he
certainly was a better sport. One day after losing to him yet again, match point was followed by
one more angry stroke. I did an overhead slam on the post supporting the net and assured myself
that my next match would necessarily be with a new Pakistan racket from K-Mart.
From time to time long after we had finished high school and parted ways, Butch and I would hit a
few when occasion brought us together whether it was at Lebanon or wherever. But eventually
Butch moved on to golf and I moved on…
During college, I resumed occasional tennis with a few guys between classes at a clay court near
the University of Louisville campus without much more success.
My tennis languished until later when early in our marriage, Judy and I would stroke balls back
and forth across the cul de sac at our home in Birmingham. Judy went on to play in ladies tennis
league and did quite well at the game. My only competition after that was the drubbing we took
when we occasionally played mixed doubles with Ron and Becky Lewis at the Roberts’ court. Ron
had played for the Montevallo University team and was pretty formidable. We played a few fun
matches with Joe and Myrna Scotch and some other Briarwood couples from time to time.
Later, it was great fun to watch my daughter play some competitive tennis including a tournament
at Anniston, Alabama when she was in high school. And then Paul and I stroked a few when he
was at Vestavia High School.
But eventually my tennis activities faded entirely except for watching the pros do it well on
television.
Our matches were competitive in the extreme. Butch was a better tennis player than I and he
certainly was a better sport. One day after losing to him yet again, match point was followed by
one more angry stroke. I did an overhead slam on the post supporting the net and assured myself
that my next match would necessarily be with a new Pakistan racket from K-Mart.
From time to time long after we had finished high school and parted ways, Butch and I would hit a
few when occasion brought us together whether it was at Lebanon or wherever. But eventually
Butch moved on to golf and I moved on…
During college, I resumed occasional tennis with a few guys between classes at a clay court near
the University of Louisville campus without much more success.
My tennis languished until later when early in our marriage, Judy and I would stroke balls back
and forth across the cul de sac at our home in Birmingham. Judy went on to play in ladies tennis
league and did quite well at the game. My only competition after that was the drubbing we took
when we occasionally played mixed doubles with Ron and Becky Lewis at the Roberts’ court. Ron
had played for the Montevallo University team and was pretty formidable. We played a few fun
matches with Joe and Myrna Scotch and some other Briarwood couples from time to time.
Later, it was great fun to watch my daughter play some competitive tennis including a tournament
at Anniston, Alabama when she was in high school. And then Paul and I stroked a few when he
was at Vestavia High School.
But eventually my tennis activities faded entirely except for watching the pros do it well on
television.
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