The World Senior Racquetball Tournament has come and gone. If you missed it, you should start planning now to participate in the 2015 event the week before Labor Day.
Almost 140 racquetball athletes played in this year’s event in Albuquerque with ages spread from just barely above thirty-five to closing in on ninety-one.
Participants came from all over the world, many from Albuquerque, but also South America, Mexico, Canada, and other spots in the world.
This tournament can be competitive, but that’s part of participating in a racquetball tournament. What makes this tournament fun is the division into age categories. Eighty-year-olds do not compete against fifty-year-olds. Eighty-year-olds compete against people in similar age categories. And those eighty-year-olds, and older, can be very competitive.
Keep watching this blog for more information about the 2015 World Senior racquetball event.
On another note, I have become a regular playing racquetball, but the last two weeks life has gotten in the way. It’s okay when you can’t play racquetball in your usual habitual way. In fact, it’s sometimes good if you miss your regular Monday match with your favorite opponent or your Saturday morning play with several friends (you switch people in and out for doubles, play cut throat, or maybe play singles.)
When you miss your usual racquetball play you discover how much that event means to you. And you may find out how much it means to your fellow players.
One of the regulars at the club where we belong died this past month. Not surprising, he was in his eighties. But it hit me harder than I thought it would and I had to wonder why. Then I knew why. He was one of the most pleasant players I ever knew, always with a greeting and always smiling.
This man, his name was Carl, played both racquetball and handball. He loved both and played as much as he could, sometimes both sports on the same day. Six months or so ago he had major surgery, a valve replaced in his heart (this is how I remember it). He recovered and was back in the court, a little slower, more cautious, but loving every minute of hitting the ball, whether handball or racquetball.
When I read Carl’s obituary I understood why watching him play either sport was a joy. He had taught physical education. He loved sports. He loved people. He enjoyed being on the court.
Rest in peace, Carl. Hope you find that eternal racquetball/handball court.