BETTER LIVING THROUGH TENNIS

Well, when the clouds finally parted enough to where we thought there might be a dryable court or two, around say 4 pm, a few brave souls meandered on down to the quadrangle. Sure enough, Mr. Maxwell was hosting a bridge party (complete with popcorn straight from the microwave), and had already been reminded of a song: "the green green grass of home." Which is what Bitsy is, I spose, rain or shine. Dan and Airplane and Slow Gun and Pac Man rolled their own court with that big heavy roller to work out the bubbles from the rain, and by the time I got back from home with my tennis gear, Keith had rolled one for us to hit on. With his tips for the day on my always in progress topspin forehand, Keith says it improved 20 percent. Bailey Brown even had his student, the lovely mannered young Franklin, observe and Terry said it was looking pretty good and I should join their mixed up troubles team. OK, Big Air, I got witnesses! Here were the deciding factors: close the raquet face, continuous follow through, meet the ball in front and LIFT! Sometimes even a blind squirrel gets a nut!

We finished the evening with the inaugural visit to the Tree Bar. Freezing but happy comrades present were Mr. Maxwell leading the charge and furnishing libations, Slow Gun with his Old Milwaukee, Terry McCain, Airplane Eddie and me, Doc (forgot to tell y'all I'm a phd). We hugged the new tree, raised a can or bottle and sang "the green,green grass of home." Then, in the shank o' the e'nin, we bid each other and the tree a fond farewell. So even when it's cold and damp and trying to dry out, you can still work on that forehand and participate in something as special as the inauguration of the new Tree Bar. The last one last fifty years. Let's hope this one will last fifty and more. So, till tomorrow,then--see you round the quadrangle. Doc