Love, Love

I love Tennis! I love the fact that the score begins with love on each side. The world would be a better place if everyone played tennis. Just think of it. Standing with someone you disagree with and having to say "love, love" and agree. Common ground. And when your opponent still hasn't scored, it's still love.

Tennis has lots of "nice" words.

Let -
the ball nicks the net on the serve and goes in. Go ahead, have another chance. Your first one didn't quite make it over the net, and you can try again.

Rally -
let's hit the ball back and forth over the net many times. A friendly exchange as I'm waiting for you too blow it. The trick here is to be patient.

Seeding -
getting ranked for a tournament. You don't want the best player playing the worst player. It puts the best players at opposite ends of the draw, to meet hopefully later. Gives the little guy a chance to feel important for awhile.

Sweet Spot -
magic area on my strings, when hit perfectly, makes the sweatest sound.

Deuce -
sounds like a dance move, but it just means we both have the same point score.

Advantage -
kind way to say, I am ahead of you by just one point. If I get the next point, I win the game.

When all the niceness wears off and nerves are on edge, attitudes begin to heat up. Sweat is on the brow. The terms in tennis seem to get a bit more aggressive.

Approach Shot -
I'm heading to the net, stopping half way there, and hitting the ball before it bounces. Hopefully it puts you off guard, as I make the kill shot and win the point.

There are some shots that just aren't very straightforward. Trick shots.

Slice -
I'm hitting just a part of the ball, which makes it spin and do all sorts of weird things, usually hugging the ground.

Topspin -
like a slice, but I'm hitting it to make the ball become a super ball.

Kicker -
type of serve where anything can happen. Surprise attack! It's on my list of things to learn. I keep hearing about it.

Choke -
when the easiest shot it the world comes my way, and I look like I've never played the game in my life.

Double Fault -
same as choke, but during a serve. For some reason, you get two chances to get the serve in. Second serve is usually wimpy.

Lob -
nothing more frustrating as the perfect lob over your head. You're at the net, ready to attack, and the opponent hits the ball over your head and it drops in near the baseline. Nothing more perfect, that hitting it over the opponents head to drop in near their baseline.

Poach -
a doubles play, when the net player sneaks over to the middle, and hits a winner. They are usually smiling. I don't trust these kind of players...they smile, then attack.

Rush the net -
I use this when I have no other option, and I just charge to scare the other guy. I usually lose the point and get hit with the ball. Its my "Braveheart" battle strategy.

Ace -
serving it so hard you can't even touch it. I love this shot. It makes me feel like I know what I'm doing.

Unforced Errors -
you get the point the easy way! I missed my shot.

And when the game is over, hands are shook. Great job! We'll battle another day and our games will start with love.

Mothers

We all have one, some have two or more. Mother, Mother-in-law, step-mother...and the grandest of all - grandmother.
Some mothers are still alive, others have gone on, and live in the hearts of their kids. Some become mothers at an early age, others later in life. Some are mothers of babies, others have kittens and puppies.

I like my mother.
I was the second baby of five. She did a good job, I think, although there were times we didn't like each other. Mothers can take it. I know. I'm a mother now of two. There are days I sit and marvel at the two beings I helped create. Then there are days that I hardly recognize them in their adolescent stretching of their wings.

I hear my mother every day. I hear her in the tone of voice I use with my kids to clean their rooms, or to pick up after themselves. I hear her when I tell them to eat their vegetables, or to brush their teeth. I hear her when we talk on the phone, and catch up the little things of life.

Now I'm starting to see her everywhere. I see my mother when I look in the mirror and see my graying hair. The wrinkles on my face have formed through the years. I think they are genetically linked to her. The road maps on our faces are the same. When I prepare dinner, I see my mother's hands. Mine are shaped just like hers.

I hope my kids can see and hear me the rest of their lives. Just like I see my mother.