Court Quest: Playing Women's Squash in the USA and Canada 1992-1994
Court Quest uses squash as a backdrop to get at a pivotal part of the author's life story-her struggle to become a national caliber player at age 50, get fit, deal with personal and career crises, deserve to go to US Nationals and win her age group, and use her developed spiritual practices on the squash court. This effort has surprising consequences most women can relate to.\ You, the reader, will chuckle at glimpses into squash club culture in North America in the early 1990's. You will...
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Court Quest uses squash as a backdrop to get at a pivotal part of the author's life story-her struggle to become a national caliber player at age 50, get fit, deal with personal and career crises, deserve to go to US Nationals and win her age group, and use her developed spiritual practices on the squash court. This effort has surprising consequences most women can relate to. You, the reader, will chuckle at glimpses into squash club culture in North America in the early 1990's. You will recognize some compelling issues facing women at that time, and wonder how squash players Tamara and Denise fare. You will begin to understand what drives not young players to enter age-group tournaments , and root for the author as she relentlessly trains and focuses, staying open to her quest. You will learn how one player succeeded on the court through her use of quick-zoom meditation and mantras. Simply put, this book is an ode to squash players. It extols unrecognized athletic ability. In subtle ways it links aging, sport and spirit. For women past puberty and curious men.
From Lightening and Lead, p. 25 \ My discouragement is short-lived. The next day, feeling determined again, I get on a court, just to see how it is.\ But I am stiff. Slow. Awkward. My reflexes are delayed. I am dull.\ I lose to a male D player who hasn't been playing the game very long.\ "Is this what age brings? Spare me!\ May no one see me playing like this ever again!\ My pride! Old dumpy marshmallow! Out! Out!"\ Hours later some other part of my brain goes into gear.\ "Time for a counter move. What?\ Find something.\ Cross-training?"\ I make up a mantra based on the theme from the movie "Cool Runnings."\ It's about the Jamaican bobsled team that overcomes great odds to compete in the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta.\ I borrow their mantra:\ "Keep your eyes on the prize!\ Keep your eyes on the prize!\ Keep your hand on the racquet!\ Keep your hand on the racquet!"\ \ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------\ \ From Ethereal Effects, p. 108\ This Quickie tournament features the regular assortment of fellows, plus Tamara, Denise, and me. On the bench we are resting, sweaty and pleasantly tired. We are within hearing distance of some guys.\ Between big breaths, Tamara says to me, "You had some really good shots out there."\ "Thanks," I say, "you played great, Tamara. Better than in practice."\ "Yeah, fierce women," she says while looking at the fellow who is grinning at us. We return his grin….\ "What gives me the most pleasure is when someone thinks I'm gonna hit it in one corner, and I change at the last minute and put it in the other."\ "You're deceitful, Tammy," says the guy.\ "I love squash," continues Tamara. "Once I called up my mother and told her, 'I love squash. It's so deceitful.'" She said, "That's nice dear…."\ Later, we wrap ourselves in towels and happy faces, long hair flowing down our muscular shoulders and backs. Gracefully we walk around the locker room, preparing to re-enter our other worlds. A flickering light makes our appearance heaven-like. At this time and in this light Age doesn't matter much. We walk the walk of healthy women.
