War in the Land of the Morning Calm

The following was inspired by my father, who served us all and fought in a war rarely recognized. Thankfully he is still living, vibrant and oft, my tennis partner.

In addition, I was more so inclined to write about this as I was the thankful recipient of a book (for which my father contributed) accounting for many events and the day-to-day lives of those who were ultimately called upon to perhaps provide the ultimate sacrifice - life. 

Jim Campbell took the opportunity and the task of finding so many who had such wonderful stories about the War in Korea, a journey I know dealt with much emotion and self-regret. You can order his book, War in the Land of the Morning Calm, by contacting him at campbell_james@bellsouth.net.

I offer you this, as if I was ever there, knowing I never was, but now understanding what was lived, felt and perhaps most intentionally forgotten.

This is for my father, all who served with him, and all those who have, including the 40 Thousand Souls, and those who will do so again.

40 Thousand Souls

40 Thousand Souls stirred as

I was frozen, still, immobile.

Many thousands more -

Beaten minds and partial bodies,

Began to inhibit my thoughts.

40 Thousand Souls stirred as

I, half awake, began to sense,

Sense, what the others, the ones I may join,

Must feel, see and endure, as I began to

Feel, see and endure what may

Become my fate.

40 Thousand Souls stirred as

Thousands of others were left

Tending the scars of war,

Forever wiping away the blood,

Trying to remove the errant shrapnel from the

Hearts and minds of family and friends.

40 Thousand Souls stirred as

My enemy - The one I fought,

Returned to life -

A life probably not unlike war itself.

40 Thousand Souls stirred as

My comrades - both domestic and foreign,

Renewed or began lives so much unlike war.

While others met with the

Everlasting and unyielding memories of battle and bloodshed.

40 Thousand Souls stirred as

A friend or spouse yearned

To understand the one who returned from the war.

40 Thousand Souls rested as

I began to move.

No longer frozen, but still lost in my own,

My own selfish sense of awareness,

Yet, now, forever so aware of the

Hearts and Souls around me.

40 Thousand Souls now rejoiced as

I awoke, realizing all I had done, not necessarily within me,

But called upon me,

Reluctant, yet somehow able.

40 Thousand Souls and

I celebrated, as we saw one another again,

As brothers, and we laughed

And cried,

Yet we never cheered, nor would we ever.

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London Broil (Food Recipe) - February 2009

This is a wonderful beef dish when done right and can be cooked court-side if you have a grill at your club.  If not, this is one of the few tasty beefs you can enjoy cold and serve at your next match or later in salads, or in other ways, such as hors devours.  Throw in a horse radish dip and you are done.

London Broil is not a cut of beef as some butchers would have you believe.  London Broil is a technique used to cook a flank or top round steak/roast cut of beef, which takes advantage of the beef's texture by marinating thoroughly.  This is the key to enjoying what you will find to be a very versatile main course, just off the grill or eaten later.

Nonetheless, London Broil is lean, very tasty and may be served in many fashions. 

 

RECIPE

This recipe requires about 15 minutes of prep time and roughly the same or less for cooking, along with 4 to 8 hours allowed for marinating.

Ingredients

• Flank Steak or Top Round Steak/Roast (some grocers or butchers may label these cuts as London Broil) - approximately 8 to 14" in length and 1 to 2" in thickness.
• Salt (fine grain, not coarse)
• Lemon Pepper
• 1 Large White Onion
• 2 Medium to Large Lemons (thinly sliced)
• 1 Bay Leaf
• A few Whole Cloves of Garlic(2 to 4)
• 1 Bottle Dry Red Wine

Transitioning to the Slice Kick (Topspin) Serve

About 17 or so years ago I moved away from a flat first serve to a slice (which doesn’t imply kick/topsin) serve. Prior I was tossing more directly into the court rather than more down the base line and ripping it. Power (relative to level of play) serving, using so much forward motion of the body can be quite exhausting, inefficient use of the body and the over-the-net-and-in-the-service box window gets much smaller.

Also, many returners, even at lower levels, can be quite accomplished at nailing a flat serve or just blocking it back, perhaps dropping you.

I was getting a good handle on my slice serve and I don’t quite know what I was doing with my second serve, but it was consistent enough and seemed to suffice, at least as I was beginning to play more and more doubles.

As I moved up in level and began to encounter opponents who were beginning to grasp the idea (thanks Agassi) of jumping the serve, some change was due. I know most people feel the worst thing one can do in doubles is to double fault. But, being annihilated on your second serve too often can be humiliating. I also don’t want my net partner having to own too much of my second serve.

Sometimes You Have to Be an Ass – Part One

Many years ago I lived at this dated, yet wonderful apartment community in Charlotte, NC.

The architecture was timeless, not a single hardwood was felled unnecessarily, the property sat on rolling hills and it was on Providence Road. One could look at all 20 plus miles of Providence Road and not find a bad neighborhood or community, no matter how intense the search.

My apartment was within 50 yards of the two tennis courts on the property. It is rare to find a tennis backboard in good condition, particularly at an apartment community, but this one was in exceptional condition.

As my career at the time allowed for some home-office time, I would usually wait ‘til beyond noon to go out to use the backboard. I waited until this time out of respect for my fellow residents who wished to sleep in or who worked odd hours. Still, I would occasionally notice a partially opened door and the glare from a less than happy face.

Sometimes You Have to Be an Ass – Part Two

I was living at an apartment community and although I could not be classified as a certified teaching pro, I mentioned to the property management that I would be glad to assist anyone wishing to learn how to play tennis. No big deal - I was willing to charge a measly 20 to $30 dollars an hour.

I also took the opportunity to assist the community staff with establishing a schedule for the tennis court as we only had one. The court was in great condition and had somewhat of a covered patio, much like a gazebo, which is rare for most any individual court.

I scheduled a court time with and a friend and we headed to the court to work on her game as she had just taken up the sport. 

We arrive and I see this guy and girl on the court. I waited until they finished a game and asked, as I usually would, "Are you near finishing your match? “No", was his reply." He responded as if I was a border guard and he was an illegal immigrant.