Tennis tourney like hockey road trips?(THE LAST LAUGH)

Last month I was invited to join a team of tennis players to play in the 13th annual Palm Desert Senior Cup. Noting the difference of about 40 degrees in temperature between Wisconsin and Palm Desert, I immediately accepted.

Going to the tournament with this team reminded me of the scores of road trips I took as a member of a University of Wisconsin women's ice hockey club team, and later the Madison Edge, over the past 25 years.

It may be a function of advanced age, improved economic resources or hardening of the habits, but the material differences between hockey and tennis road trips were immense.

However, when I considered it as another road trip, I realized there were many similar objectives:

Have fun

It's not about whether you win or lose, it's about having fun. The year before I joined the hockey team, it had lost to a Minnesota team by something like 23-1, but we sure had fun on road trips! But we sure had fun sharing many outrageous SWAT missions and pranks on the road trips.

The tennis tourney brought an outdoor pool, great Mexican and health food restaurants, casino, outlet malls, natural vistas with palm and Joshua trees, and even a tram ride.