I didn’t grow up playing tennis. I really didn’t start playing until I was in my early twenties, when I was lonely and living in Iowa farm country. The first trophy I ever won as an adult was in a tennis tournament in Iowa, where the trophy was engraved, “WOS DOUBLES”. I always found it hilarious that “women’s” was abbreviated WOS. And Iowa at the time was the most literate state in the Union.

But that wasn’t my point. My point is I have been losing tennis matches all the time lately. I have said to teammates that I need a sports psychologist to get my head on straight. This past year I have been certified as a Professional Tennis Coach through a bona fide certification organization. I have been working with kids teaching them tennis. OMG, if they only knew what a loser I am!

I haven’t won a USTA match since April, 2026. It’s not like I am counting, except that I am. Sheesh! And it’s not like I haven’t played much. I play all the time. (It is why my books aren’t being cranked out.)

It just might be my competitive streak, right?

In a few weeks I will be having my right hip replaced. It’s getting sorer and sorer, and feels so achey when I walk on concrete. I know tennis isn’t be best thing to be doing, but I want to keep playing. I am defying gravity. I am trying to defy aging out of the sport I love.

I have many role models of tennis players who continue to play at ages much older than I (ok, maybe not THAT much older…). We–none of us–play as we did when we were younger. I competed on a 3.5 senior women’s team tennis in 2006 (or something like that) with a team out of MN. We played in Tucson, AZ. My partner and I went undefeated, but our team did not. What happened in 20 years??? How is it I am not as competitive at 72 than I was at 52?

In my head I am still in my 40s. I say 40s because I didn’t really start playing tennis a lot until I was 22, and it took me a long time to get to a competitive level. I loved playing with my husband Scot. He was a much better player than I but he was always kind and considerate to me. I know I am not 40, but in my imagination I feel as though I can still be the player I was in my 40s.

I can’t understand why I can’t get back into my 40s form–I wasn’t even that good back then!!

So I continue to play. I take up a spot on the team roster. I hope my teammates see I am trying so hard! I play because I love the game, it keeps me somewhat fit, and I still think I can get better.

Maybe my next post should be about dreaming.