Here is the Very Little I Have to Say About Me & Sports

One million years ago, I used to play tennis. 

Wait, that sounds more official and sporty than it really was. 

One million years ago I bought a tennis racket from Target and sometimes used to hit balls around.  I even took tennis lessons with friends so we could all play Doubles Troubles.  We never really progressed beyond being really excited if our serves miraculously landed in the right box on the other side of the court, but it was fun.

I was reminded of these fun, sweaty evenings after work while reading The Tennis Partner by by Abraham Verghese.  (Same author who wrote the much more awesome Epic Novel Cutting for Stone.)  My personal tennis experience contains a lot less drug addiction, but it was fun to think to be reminded of how much fun tennis is, and that I need to make a point to play sometime in the next ten years if possible.

I like Verghese’s writing style and would read pretty much anything he wrote besides the probably many actual medical journal-type things he has written.  I’d rather read about tennis and shooting up cocaine.  (Which as a mom I now feel compelled to point out sounds like a very bad idea.)

Quick recap:  do play tennis, do read The Tennis Partner, do not do cocaine.

Noodle Arms Continue to Underwhelm

You know you have a good friend when you get a call from the bookstore and said friend asks what you want to read so she can buy it, read it and then lend it to you.  This makes up for relentless blog mocking.  So, thanks Erin for buying Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.   And while we are at it, thanks for the Hardywood Gingerbread Stout.  It was delicious. 

Please note that this story was a clever way to both thank a friend and credit myself for selecting a fabulous book (that was originally recommended by my Mom).  I also managed to squeeze in a shout out to a local brewery – not sure if you picked up on that subtle mention, reader.

Cutting for Stone is a Big Thick Book that is a bit slow to get started, but proved to be well worth it.  This fictional story somehow makes you feel smarter - perhaps because it takes place in Ethiopia and is about smart doctors.  (Plus it is written by a smart doctor who also writes good books – is it fair for one dude to have this much talent?  Answer: no.  I would not want to be friends with this guy.)

This is a beautiful story that will make you cry unless you are super tough and can open beer bottles with your bicep.  Since I can do approximately ten girly-style push-ups with one break I was a teary-eyed mess.