Book Group: Oct, Nov, and Dec 2015

Book: Orphan Train
Author: Christina Baker Kline
Meeting: Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at Julie's
Dessert: apple crisp with home-made cinnamon and honey ice cream

Book group is moving to Wednesdays to better accommodate some schedules, including mine. This book was a quick read, interesting story with fun twist at the end. I liked it, but probably not as much as The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty (Book Group pick Nov. 2013) which seemed a more complex story and also featured the orphan trains.

Book: Vanessa and Her Sister
Author: Priya Parma
Meeting: Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at Jean's
Dessert: apple caramel tart with whipped cream

Vanessa Bell was the sister of Virginia Woolf and part of the Bloomsbury group in London. The book reads like a diary and introduces way too many characters. But, by the second half of the book I was fascinated by the story and the relationships and breezed on through it. I am embarrassed to admit that I was not familiar with the prolific art of Vanessa Bell.

Book: Guests on Earth
Author: Lee Smith
Meeting: Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at Jane's
Dessert: sorbet and lemon frosted cookies

Told from the perspective of Evalina a former patient at Highland Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina.This is the mental hospital where Zelda Fitzgerald resided and where she died in a tragic fire. The group seemed to agree that the compelling story really didn't need the Zelda tie. Insulin shock therapy was used in the hospital. I had not been aware of its use. Wow! It was a standard therapy in the field in the 30's and 40's and into the 50's, I think. It has been replaced by drugs. Good read.

Tennis In My Life

Tennis gear: sweaty visor to keep sun off my face, 50spf lip balm, band for my hair. Ready to play!

Tennis is playing a very big role in my life right now. After years of knee issues, I am enjoying a relatively pain-free time on the court. (I'm knocking on wood as I write this.) Since my physical health is a big part of aging, I thought I should document the state of my health now so that there's a reference point when I reach another stage.

I believe this has not happened by chance, but by faithful almost-daily PT, less body weight, and a reintroduction of leg lifts into my routine. I began the leg lifts after a visit to an orthopedic surgeon who recommended total knee replacement for my arthritic right knee. My physical therapist agreed and said the leg lifts would help me recover from surgery. I opted not to replace the knee yet, but I assumed I would eventually and uncovered my weight bench in the basement. The weight loss I attribute to the Type 2 diabetes gloom and doom of 2 years ago and my decision to count calories along with carbs. (I'm now back to "pre-diabetic.") And the daily PT has been part of my life for years. It's what kept me on the court, or my desire to play tennis motivated me to keep up those side steps, etc. so I could play.

Why is it so important to me?

Well, tennis is really the only sport that I do with joy. I walk some, I bike some, but I do them because I need to keep moving, not because I really like them. I'll bend over backward to play tennis. I'll even organize groups and I am now captaining a team.

Brenda (on the right) named this group Yippie Skippie. We play every Tuesday night.

Tennis provides the social interaction that I need. Some of my tennis buddies have been around for twenty years or more. When I've been unable to play I get ornery and lonely. 

There's always something to learn, a stroke to improve, a strategy to try. I love the competition. I want to win and that drives me. But, I don't think I NEED to win. I'm just happy to be on the court and thankful that I still can. I wonder how many more years I'll be able to play competitively.

I like to buy a tennis shirt when I play in tournaments for the memories it brings.

That's why when my 55+ team won the state championship this summer I was eager to go to the Sectional playoffs in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. It's such a hoot to do a road trip with a bunch of crazy women, share rooms and meals, and try hard on the court. We didn't do too well, but we had a great time and I'd do it again. It's also easier to do it when you're retired! The last time I went to a sectional Jim covered my shifts at Chiripa. 

And Jim plays tennis, too. Our time on the court has changed now that he's a tennis instructor. I can no longer beat him. I get lessons, but with the schedule he keeps I'm reluctant to ask for my time. Maybe I can get him to retire and we can go back to fun tennis. Mixed doubles is the best!

A selfie with longtime tennis buddies Jennifer and Brian on great October day for tennis.

That's the state of tennis in my life at this moment. I hope it lasts a looong time.