The End

Today was our final day here in La Quinta.  It started with our daily routine, which when Fran and I travel together we become very routine oriented. Keep reading for that story...

After our breakfast we headed to the courts to warm up for Fran’s singles. I had the “general soreness” that comes from playing consecutive matches, particularly on hard courts, but certainly nothing out of the ordinary. During the 10-15 warmup hit I was fine. Once Fran started playing and I found a cool spot in the shade, and it hit me, with vengeance. My lower right side below my shoulder and above my lower back started to spasm. Any movement, standing or sitting brought me to my knees. I sat very still hoping it was a passing moment. Then BAM it hit me again, paralyzing me until it slowly let up. By this time, Fran was fighting her guts out only to lose the first set in a tiebreaker.  I slowly inched my way to the on site trainer to have him work on me and hopefully massage it out. He was no help. He mainly talked about himself and name dropped all the big time players he’s worked on. Please just be quiet and release me from my pain.  I crawled off the table, threw a few dollars in his jar and went to see how Fran was doing.  She was close to splitting sets...good for her! Any wrong move was still causing me deep agony, so when Fran split I told her to give all she had to win the final set beacause I wasn’t going to be able to play our 3 & 4 playoff doubles match. I sensed great  relief from her.

I thought about it and had come to the decision that I wanted to be able to fly home tomorrow. The way I was feeling, a 6 hour plane ride plus layover was going to be tough no matter what.  Plus she was losing energy point by point. Playing a tough doubles match with her dead and me hurting was a lose lose proposition. Fran won 6-4 in the third set, and we gladly defaulted our doubles match. I must say one of my smarter decisions.

My mission was accomplished. I came. I played. And I want to do it again. Lots to work on, but at least I have direction and sense of belonging again.

However I want my money back from that loser trainer guy!😒 I’m still writhing in pain.

Traveling with a pharmacist does have its perks. Fran had a muscle relaxer, so I’ve taken one to sleep tonight and saving one for the plane tomorrow.

I appreciate and read everyone’s text, emails and comments of support. I apologize if I don’t respond to them all, but please know that I read each one.  Thank you! I am very eager to get home and start the next chapter!

Want to know what a typical day is like at one of these events? Here’s a glimpse of our day...
Most singles are scheduled at 8 am:
*Up by 5:30
*Eating breakfast by 6:00 (here has been IHOP)(same waitress everyday-Karen)
*At club to hit by 6:45. Hit for 15 minutes.
*Fix water jugs, stretch, etc,
*Fran does her 15 second, yes 15 seconds of jump rope.
*I laugh at her for doing it. Chit chat with other players as they wander  in
*play singles matches, then commiserate on winning or losing
*find lunch (Panera for us this week)
*back to club to play doubles, then commiserate on winning or losing again
*Back to villa, or hotel or housing to shower(gorgeous villa for us)
*Decide on dinner, Mario’s Italian for us, same meal, same waitress
*Grocery store run if need for bananas, water or something small for a insatiable sweet tooth
*Load of laundry
*Go to sleep
Then repeat the next day. And the next. And the next, And...you catch my drift.

We follow the same schedule, eat at the exact same places and usually eat the exact same meal. Now, not everyone is like us, but works for us, so why change it. We travel to some beautiful places but rarely do we see it unless it’s right in front of our faces.  It was hard to ignore the beauty of the mountain and deserts this week. I loved the change of scenery but give me the beaches any day!

I will be playing the Naples/Ft Myers Challenge in early November. After that I’m not sure what my next event will be.