Whenever we relocate our aim, my wife’s and mine, is the same: to find an activity which will integrate us with our new community. But the way we go about achieving that aim is different: Mona looks for opportunities to volunteer but not before she has stocked the fridge. I look for a tennis court and players to hit with. Our shared interest becomes the pathway to friendship. 

Our last move was in 2007, when we relocated in Plano from Taipei, Taiwan, where I worked for an export company for 26 years.

As soon as the movers set down the last carton in our Plano home, I asked my wife, “Honey, do you remember the box in which I packed my tennis rackets?”

The moment the words left my lips I knew that I had said the wrong thing. Mona was silent for a moment. Then in a popsicle-sweet tone (read also: icy), she said, “Shouldn’t you be asking, ‘Honey is your grocery list ready?’ Aren’t you thinking of eating dinner today?’” 

How could I have forgotten her first order of business?  

After achieving domestic peace by running to the nearest grocery store, I sneaked off to google tennis facilities in Plano. High PointTennisCenter popped up immediately. Off I trooped to the center to see whether I could find partners for a game of doubles. 

Impressed by the number of courts (I stopped counting after 20), and the extremely friendly pro-shop staff, I signed up a family membership. The moment Mary handed me the receipt, I asked her whether she could suggest the names of some players at a loose end like me.  Becky took over from this point and suggested that I could join one of their leagues. However, currently all the leagues were mid-way.  I would have to wait a month or so to sign up for the upcoming ones. Kathleen added that even the mixer was at least three weeks away. Becky gave me a sub list and wished me good luck.    

The next day I received e-mails from Huang, Pete and Ashok. Charlotte at the Pro-shop confirmed a court and we were set for a doubles match two days hence.

Huang was the first to arrive. He was in his late twenties and looked as fit as Andy Roddick. Pete was next. He wore braces on both his knees; he took slow careful steps; he was definitely over seventy years of age. Ashok showed up a few minutes later. His graying hair gave him a dignified fortyish look. I was in my sixties. I kicked myself, mentally. How could I have overlooked mentioning either the age or level bracket on Craig’s List.

I realized the embarrassing situation I had put these trusting people in. However, all of them were considerate enough to pretend that no such situation existed.

“Everybody good to go?” asked Huang, displaying a maturity beyond his years.

The game began. The pairing fell naturally into place. Huang choose Pete, as his partner. Youth and age versus early and late middle age. Huang’s serves blazed the court, and his forehands left Ashok and me standing. Pete stood in one spot and hit only those shots which came close to him, leaving Huang to cover the rest of the court.  Ashok’s preparations to serve were a sort of long drawn out ritual. My backhand developed a love affair with the net and the returns just wouldn’t go over the net.

We completed what I can call a parody of tennis.  It was obvious that nobody had enjoyed the outing.

I had learnt my lesson. No more CraigList, no more bringing players cold, I decided.  I would leave it to Kevin, Joe and all those good-natured ladies at High Point to sort out issues of skill and levels and wait for the League to begin.

The League began. Tennis helped me to make friends, and eased my transition from the patterns of life in the Far East to the rhythm of life in a multicultural environment in the U.S. A tennis court is a fertile ground for friendships to blossom. A week does not seem complete if I don’t play men’s doubles with, The Regulars,   Fred Gonsalez, Hank Venturoni, Dan Lovett  Ron Ternosky and John Billingsley, and mixed doubles with my better half, Mona and John and Gloria Billingsley. The friendships extend from the court to the living room, from husbands to wives, so that while Kathy Letchworth ( Fred’s wife), Carol Venturoni, Dawn Lovett, Irina Ternosky, Gloria and Mona linger round the dining table long after the meal is over, the men lounge on the sofas and indulge in “remembrances of things past.”

A year later I was still making new friends, and playing tennis at High Point as it celebrated the 30th anniversary of its founding on 23rd Feb, 2008. “I would prefer to call it 30 years of serving our neighbors, far and near,” said Ken Sumrow, the first and current director of High Point.