Wednesday

June 14, 2000

"Yes! Life is a banquet, and most poor sons-of-bitches are starving to death. Live!."

From the play Auntie Mame Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, based on the novel by Patrick Dennis

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back to the racket

I work today. I have some interesting discussions with some co-workers. We buy a house.

I have lunch at Peony's. Lamb with jalepeno sauce.

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The tennis courts are really, really beautiful. My game is really, really ugly. But I have fun. The heat and the different sort of exercise really turn me into a red-faced huff and puff machine. But I have fun. It's really fun. Isn't it?

It is a casual event with a little casual mixed doubles with a hit around. I win a few games (and it isn't always my partner's doing) and lose a few. I suck about the same as everyone else I play with. Except the lady pro who has to fill in against me once. She takes it easy on us though.

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They have free beer and margaritas and lemonade and food. I like their attitude. I only have one beer, though, and a little food. It's hot out there. I'm not stupid. When I was younger, I was stupid. I now understand the principles of dehydration.

A funny scene. We are supposed to start playing with our spouse then switch courts and partners. Anyway, one couple has a kid about two with them. They try to get him to stand on the edge of the court so they can play. The dad says, "Stay" to him like a dog but every time he tries to take the court again, the boy trots out with him immediately.

I don't have a spouse playing, of course. So I start with a guy named 'Bob.' The second couple we take the court with has a kid of about nine on the bench. Bob asks him his age and says he has a sixth grade daughter. The other woman asks me, "How many kids do you have? Just the one?"

"None," I say, "Bob and I aren't married. Probably never will be." He's too young for me anyway. Everyone on the courts for this event seems to be at least a decade younger. Ah, well, I'll be eligible to be in the Senior (over 55) women soon enough. Of course, they play in the morning on a weekday. So, I'll have to retire as well.

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