The Empress Wave

Today, with massive Hurricane Irene tracking toward the Emerald Empire, the Empresses demonstrated their composure and dignity in the face of the potential havoc of the storm. They did this by adopting an official gesture:  The Empress Wave.

The Wave is appropriately employed as a greeting, as a signal of good sportsmanship between opponents after a match, and as a gesture of farewell.  Of course, the traditional handshake, fist bump, hug, high five, and Victory Do-si-do (which, actually, has never been performed on the Courts, but could be, so it's included here) are still acceptable.  The Wave simply joins the Empresses' extensive repertoire of expression.

Not sure how to execute the wave?  Just follow the example of Queen Elizabeth:

The Empress Wave.  (Note Her Majesty's emerald-green attire.)

One might think that the Empresses would be better served (so to speak) by adding to their repertoire more deft lobs, effective overheads, or precise backhands.  Well, yeah. 

But certainly the warmth and grace of The Wave have their place on the Courts, as well.

A new exclamation, and strategy

Five Empresses showed up for Wednesday morning doubles today. It was actually pleasant outside, after weeks of high temperatures. We were glad to see Empress Ruth, whose hand is almost completely recovered; we recommend a regimen of all tennis, no pruning.

Empress Gail forgot to bring her her flak jacket--unfortunately, since she interrupted the trajectory of the ball a couple of times.

Empress Pat introduced This Writer to a new expression of annoyance with one's own sub-par (so to speak) play: "Aw, mush."

When Empress Gail was struck by the ball, all present commiserated, but agreed that taking a couple of hits, whether with oncoming ball or one's own racquet, wildly wielded, is just par for the course in tennis (to again mix metaphors).

Speaking of golf, two Empresses have performed impressively on the links lately. Empress Judy was a "June Ace," and Empress Sue is recipient of the Emerald Cup.

Empress Pat's husband, Bill, filled in one week when the Empresses were one short of a foursome for doubles. Reportedly, he asked, "Why do you keep hitting the ball TO each other?"

"We're not that social," Empress Sue said, huffily, meaning that our "social tennis" is still competitive. So we now and then forget what the score is; wouldn't Venus and Serena if they were over 50 and didn't have a scoreboard?  Hey, we still play to win.

Sometimes the strategy is "just get it back over the net"--which is sometimes problematic even when the net on the Emerald Empire's one shady court is about four inches lower than it's supposed to be. Sometimes the strategy is "whack the ball as hard as you can," i.e., an Empress Sue forehand or an Empress Evelyn volley. One does try to "hit it where they ain't" (in the words of Wee Willie Keeler, a Hall of Fame baseball hitter) but sometimes one only manages to just make contact with the ball--and/or to hit the opponent, as Empress Gail will confirm. She ended up being a target this morning, but she also had success in placing the ball beyond the opponents' reach with a couple of lobs and alley shots: hittin' 'em where they ain't, fer sher.