This past weekend was our 3rd annual Brookfield Ballers tennis weekend in Seaside, Florida. Oh, but it was so much more than that. It was a celebration of friendships, competition, support and enduring relationships that are so much more than serves and volleys. It always happens at the start of our spring ALTA (Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association) season.
We welcomed a couple new players. We were missing a couple who were home supporting their families. But they were with us in our active texts, thoughts and prayers.
Our team started in the fall of 2021. Our biggest milestone was we did not default a point that year. By the end on 2022, we won our division. That’s progress.
This trip is a big part of our secret sauce. It binds and bonds us. We play 3 or 4 days of tennis, go to the beach and rent nicer and nicer homes. It’s going to be hard to top this year’s house on the beach with its 7 bedrooms, hot tub and roof top pool.
We like to start Thursday night at dueling pianos where we always request the same songs and sing along. This year I overpaid to have them play “Hail to the Victors.” A few of us might drink too much a night or two but when we do, we take care of each other.
On Friday, we ran into a group of ladies at lunch who were celebrating 30 years of spring reunions. We all agreed that we want that for our team, even if we aren’t all playing tennis 27 years from now, because it really is about more than tennis. And it means more every year.