It's All in the Genes...

For those of you who know me, and often shake your head at my stupid refusal to cease playing rugby, or snowboarding, or any of the other crazy things I do that often end up in entertaining ER stories... apparently I come by that craziness honestly. My aunt (who, in her 40's, began training for, and has become a Tri-athlete. She is going to be doing one in the Sahara desert...) wrote an interesting post today on her blog:

Speaking of pulling barn doors open. After camp I came to CT to visit my parents before the big snow storm hit. My Mother was very excited when I came in and wanted to know if I would go with her to the racquet club this morning because for the first time in five years she was going to play tennis again! So off I went to the barn to retrieve her old tennis racquets. That barn door is STILL hard to open.

I was sad for my Mom when she gave up tennis. I never knew my Mom without a tennis racquet in her hand and she had one in mine before I was six. I’m not really sure why she quit but I know that the desire to work out or play sports comes from within. But, sometimes you just need the right word from the right person at the right time. My Mom ran into an old friend who runs the Farmington Valley Racquet Club and he talked her into playing. She was nervous and wanted me to come with just in case she couldn’t make it through the hour and a half.

I was worried at first too. Hmm, was she too told to be playing? What if she fell or her heart started to act up? She’s on blood thinners and a bad fall could be very serious. “If I have to go, that’s a good way to go, on the court” she philosophized. I walked her down to the court and hit her a couple of balls. So far so good. She seemed able-body enough for me. But could we pull off playing with some regular players? I watched them do a nice warm up, nothing too hard. She seemed to be hitting fine.

My Mom’s partner was a younger woman who was a very nice player. She did all the back court running and Mom hit anything that came within a couple of steps. When it was my Mom’s turn to serve, she served the ball in like she had never taken a break. 5-love, 30-love, ACE!!! I heard the opponents grumble something about “they sent in a ringer.” I watched her put a couple of net shots away and knew she didn’t need me hanging around and I went up to the viewing area to watch the rest.

Mom and her partner won all three sets. They made a nice duo. Anything short or in the air my mom just put it away and Dotty ran everything down in the back. They ended up winning 6-2, 6-4, 6-4!!! When they were done I was checking on my Mom, how did you feel? Was your heart beating too fast? Were you dizzy? “I think we should go for a swim now, wouldn’t that be nice?” Was her response…..

Oh and the one part I didn’t mention is that on March 3rd my mother turns 88 years old!!! I couldn’t help but take some pictures of her playing. And I have to say Mom that I was and am VERY proud of you!!!! 87 years young and still rumbling!!!!

You can read the full post here.

And you all think I'M crazy?