Next week at this time, Julie and I will be in Scottsdale, AZ playing tennis. Not just playing tennis, but playing for a National Championship at the USTA League 55 & over Mixed Doubles National Invitational. The crazy thing is that this our third national championship tournament - we played this same tournament last year and also in the 40 & over mixed doubles in San Diego last fall.

If you had asked me 20 years ago what I thought I might be doing in 2024, playing national championship tennis would not have been on the list. Hell, playing tennis wouldn't have even made the list.

Julie and I have been tennis fans for as long as I can remember. We would catch the big events on the weekends when we could, back in the day when really the only time you could watch tennis was the final rounds on one of the three networks. We were lucky enough to attend the US Open in 2001. Our son Zeke played a little bit of tennis when he was around 10 years old or so, but it wasn't something that Julie or I made the time for.

That changed not long after we moved back to St. Louis in 2005. We were settled and the kids were more independent, and I was working from home consistently, so Julie had time to finally indulge her interest to learn how to play. Fast forward about 10 years, her mixed doubles partner moved away and lucky me (I say with all sincerity) got to be her new partner.

Most of our date nights over the last five years or so have been on the tennis court. During the summer we play two or three nights a week together, and in the winter just once a week together, and in men's and women's leagues as well. It has been great for us individually, and fantastic for us together. We've grown even closer, and found some amazing friends along the way to all the incredible experiences.

If you're in Scottsdale next weekend and want to watch some old people (!) play tennis, stop on by and look for the MO Valley 6.0 team.