As I was drafting a post about my kids' sports happenings, I decided to back up the bus to the fall and share a tennis story. My reasoning will make sense eventually.
The mom of the twins that I sit for teaches math at our high school. Calling twin's mom TM for short. In case you were wondering, she hears from other teachers when Tank incorporates one of the twins on his math Zoom calls.
One day in the fall Mini and I were telling TM about how a girl named Mandy was on the tennis team this year. She's AMAZING at tennis. Mandy, a state ranked tennis player, hadn't played for the high school team until this, her junior year. She was the only player not required to stick around during a match and cheer for teammates when her set ended. I assume she had private lessons, etc. and that her schedule with homework is busy because of her high tennis ranking.
Of course the high school WANTED her to play for them, because they want to WIN. I assume the coaches made a deal: it was OK for her to play on the team, and unlike everyone else, be allowed to leave the minute she was done. Oh, and she wasn't required to attend practice. Just when she could make it.
Oh, well. Honestly I was like whatever. It is fun to win sometimes.
It just so happens that Mandy thinks she is ALL that. And more. If asked, she would rank HERSELF highly from a non-sports perspective.
Mini said it was awkward when Mandy showed up to tennis. Mandy doesn't have friends on the team. Well, her friends are limited since she only deems a certain group worthy. For Mandy, chatting doesn't come natural with commoners like Mini. When necessary though, she conversed with Mini and company, because she had no one else to talk to. Friendly Mini was OK with it, but she did note that Mandy would never talk to her in the school hallways, etc.
The crazy thing . . . when Mini was in 3rd or 4th grade, she was summertime best buddies with Mandy. I know, weird.
Mandy's family belonged to the same pool that we belonged to. Her mom and I sat and talked while our kids splashed around. It was delightful. Our kids attended different grade schools, but we knew they'd be reunited in high school.
As a grown-ass-woman, I knew that Mandy's mom would never have chatted with me if we'd been in high school together. She was as cool as they come. The fun thing is though, we weren't in high school (um, she grew up in the south, so you get that we were never in high school together, besides I think she's older than me . . . that felt better than it should've) and when you aren't in high school anymore all you need is a good sense of humor and a willingness to laugh at yourself. If you need more than that, I'm screwed. So far it's been working for me. I'm sure Mandy's mom knew me for the role I could fulfill: the goofy chick with the funny stories. Bingo. We got along great.
Oh, here's a Mandy's mom moment that will help put this in perspective.
I bought a new bathing suit. It came with a cover up that showed one arm. I would model it for you all now, but I'm too pale, maybe after I return from Arizona. Anyway, she almost flipped over her lounge chair laughing when I described my shopping process. I tried on a suit and I couldn't quite figure it out. There were legs openings where I thought the arms should be. It was all kinds of twisted and once I got it on, I swear to you I almost couldn't get it off. How embarrassing . . . Um, I'll take this one, and I'll just wear it home. I decided if I was struggling that much to put the suit on, then I didn't deserve to own it. I showed her the one I selected, and the coordinating cool coverup.
Mandy's mom: OH, THAT COVER UP. YOU'LL WEAR THAT WITH A PAIR OF WHITE SKINNY JEANS. (said in a southern accent to make me feel that much more like a schlep).
I got her meaning with the skinny white jeans, but I knew that wasn't my 'look'.
Me: NO YOU WOULD WEAR THIS WITH A PAIR OF WHITE SKINNY JEANS.
![]() |
I'm sure you all appreciate how long it took me to find a photo of me wearing this bathing suit, circa 2013. The cover up was the same, but it hung over one shoulder. I'm in the orange/brown stripes. |
Present day: Mandy and Mini's cute little buddy relationship went down the drain like discarded pool water after Mandy's family dropped their pool membership the next year.
![]() |
While looking for a pic, I came across this . . . Curly in her Lands End bathing suit. Mine wasn't this cute. |
A gut busting pool story to follow. The laughing might count as an ab exercise, so adjust your workouts accordingly my friends.
Anyone else almost strangle themselves trying on a bathing suit? That reminds me, I once wore a suit from Lands End with a built in skirt. (might be time to repost my first ever bikini wax story and then this will make more sense). It was navy and drab and it got too heavy when wet, making the skirt hang too low. Mary Ann belonged to my pool (this was before we were neighbors) and her MIL came with her one day and raved about my suit. Wanted to get one for herself. After she left, I looked at the other moms with a realization: WHEN A GRANDMA RAVES ABOUT YOUR SUIT, YOU'RE WEARING AN AWFUL SUIT. (Well, dang it -now this post is longer than I intended, but the last bit was worth it, right?)