A very gentlemanly game

I'm referring to our weekly tennis game which features four men of advanced years trying to recapture their more youthful abilities. Truth is we've stopped trying that hard.

We love the game and have been playing together for what seems like forever. More recently, however, it's become difficult to get four guys available for a match.

One stalwart is recuperating from a knee replacement. Another has given up the game altogether because of his knee problems. But the rest of us just keep battling the odds to field a weekly foursome.

When we do get on the court, I've noticed a not so subtle change in the way we play. We don't chase down as many shots as we used to. We don’t race back for lobs over our heads. We don't charge in for drop shots unless they're within a couple of steps. We walk slowly back to the baseline to serve after a point. We seem to be more interested in going for our after-match coffee than matching points.

So I think what I'm saying is that we have a very social game, played at a very gentlemanly pace leading to a welcome coffee klatch.

We stroll, not run, on Dunkin'.