Tennis Anyone?

Now that football season is over with this weekends Superbowl, which we will be there and I cannot wait, I turn my attention to my second favorite of tennis. Although I've missed most of it, these last two weeks have been the Australian Open. I am excited to see my favorite Serena Williams again going to the finals as well as Nadal. For me I love that each of the grand slams take two weeks each to through the draws and now with all the channels out there I can usually see most matches and watch all day long. In addition the Tennis Channel now usually covers the events leading up to the slams so that makes for a whole lot of tennis.

I have always used watching sports as an escape from my illnesses. I remember way back during one of my hospital stays(and it was a long one) and the Olympics were on. I can say that being focused on that got me through that stay.

Once a year I still get out on a tennis court. When we go to Rockmere, we always play tennis at least one time if only for about a half an hour. I still have such good memories when tennis played such a huge part in my life. I started playing very early, about 6 or 7. When I began to play all the time was in junior high. As there were not many people my own age, I began to play in a summer league at our local park. Almost every weekday in the summer from 8am until noon, you could find me on the court. I played in high school although I played on the boys team as there was no girls, and I hardly played although I did letter.

I had a great time playing in college although it added so much extra pressure that after making it to regionals I burnt myself out. I took some time off until I began working at the Billie Jean Tennis Center which became Pennbriar and was a tennis and fitness club. Since I was always there teaching classes and training clients, the leagues would always use me to complete their foursomes when someone couldn't play. I'd be teaching my class and someone would come to the window and wave a tennis racket back and forth meaning can I play.

I was fortunate when we moved to Florida to work again at tennis and fitness club so again I could play when I was able.I miss it and would love to play again, but for right now I enjoy watching the pros play.

Melissa