Composure...

Composure: Webster's Dictionary defines Composure as, "calmness or repose especially in frame of mind or in bearing or appearance." My definition of composure is, "calmness and self control in the face of adversity." Keep this in mind...I'll come back to it later.

The way ALTA (Atalanta Lawn & Tennis Association) is set-up is based on sub-divisions. Each sub-division is a team (my team is Gran Forest), each team plays five games (matches) every Saturday, sub-divisions play against other subdivisions. This Saturday my team, Gran Forest, was at home and played against Fieldstone sub-division. The first matches began at 9:00am and the last match finished around 2:00pm.

Saturday mornings are more than just sitting around watching tennis. The home team supplies food and drink for all the players and the fans and so it's more like a big party or picnic with tennis matches going on in the background.

Here is a picture of some of the fans hanging out watching two of the early matches.

Okay, back to composure. On the last post I mentioned I finally won a match against a wily 72 year old veteran who had two leg braces, one arm brace, and glaucoma (or was it cataracts?). Well, this week Steve (my teammate) and I played against two experienced tennis players. One guy was in his thirties, he was very good. The other guy was about 66 years old, he had one leg brace, he walked with a serious limp, and I'm pretty sure he had pace maker. I'm getting to composure...

These older experienced guys are not nimble on their feet but they can place the ball with unbelievable precision. This veteran could place the ball down the middle, he could poke it down the side line or back line, he could lob it over our heads, he could dink it just over the net. He made us run around like a couple of chickens with their heads cut off.

Now don't take this wrong, this man was a very nice guy and I don't think I'm better than him BUT, BUT, BUT I don't think my expectations are too high when I think I should whoop him at tennis!!!! It kills me that I lost to a man who couldn't bend down to pick up a tennis ball at his feet because of arthritis!!!! So, why do I mention composure? BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T FOR MY COMPOSURE I WOULD HAVE SCREAMED AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS, "I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M LOSING TO A MAN WHO RIDES AROUND ON A SCOOTER WHILE HE'S SHOPPING AT THE GROCERY STORE - AHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Okay, I feel better...now I can go back to pretending like I have composure... :)

Here's a video I took while Cam, Kelsie, and Cam's friend went to the driving range last week. It was pouring out but there was nothing else to do and so we hit some golf balls and got soaked.