Four Women.
Four Cities.
One Obsession.

The Phipps Ocean Park courts got resurfaced last week and Bunny called me before my coffee was even finished to deliver this news like it was a stock tip. By nine o'clock we were out there and I will say — the new surface is extraordinary. Geoffrey thinks I'm being dramatic but Geoffrey also plays golf at Seminole and has never once had to negotiate court time with a retired dermatologist from Boca who shows up twenty minutes early to every open play and then complains about the wind. I wore my new Loro Piana sun hat and not a single person commented on it, which tells me everything I need to know about where we are culturally.

Bunny and I grabbed lunch at Ta-boo after and she told me — in complete confidence, which is why I'm sharing it here — that the couple who used to dominate the Tuesday round robin at Bath & Tennis have apparently switched to tennis. Tennis. At their age. I said a prayer for them and ordered the crab salad. The courts are ours again, darlings, and the season is looking very promising.

I don't know what Thomas said to Derek at that beginner clinic last Thursday but my husband has become a completely different person. He came home, looked up three YouTube videos on the third shot drop, and asked me if we could "hit some balls" before dinner. We have been married twenty two years and this man has never once suggested physical activity before dinner. We went to Pelican Bay and honestly? He's not terrible. Camille saw us from across the court and gave me a thumbs up which I chose to interpret as encouragement rather than pity.

After we stopped at The French on Fifth for a glass of rosé and I need to tell you about their new small plates menu because it is absolutely worth the parking situation on Fifth Avenue which has gotten completely out of hand since they redid the streetscape. Camille joined us and we sat outside until it got dark and talked about the mixed doubles tournament at Naples Grande next month and whether Derek is remotely ready for it. He is not. We are signing him up anyway.

Honey, I come to you this week with news that has shaken the Knudson court community to its absolute core — Kenny self-rated to 4.0 and signed up for the advanced round robin on Wednesday mornings. Frank found out from Dottie who found out from the sign-up sheet and called me while I was in the Publix on Rolling Acres. I had to put down my cantaloupe. The advanced group over there includes Barbara who played in nationals last year and two brothers from New Jersey who are absolutely no joke, and Kenny — bless his heart — is going to learn some things about himself.

Dottie and I watched from the bleachers with our coffee and I want to be very clear that we were there to be supportive. We were completely supportive. We only laughed twice and both times were when he called the ball out on a shot that was so clearly in that Barbara turned around and looked at the sky like she was asking God for patience. Lake Sumter Landing has that new café opening next to the smoothie place and we've decided to make it our post-Wednesday tradition whether Kenny improves or not. Some things you just have to look forward to.

Here's the thing about playing pickleball in Sarasota in May — you either commit fully or you move somewhere with a functioning atmosphere. The Tuesday crew showed up to Pompano at seven thirty and by eight fifteen Gabi had already declared it "too hot to be legal" which, fair, but also she was the one who scheduled it. Marco wore a hat for the first time in his life because I threatened consequences and I have to say it looked genuinely good on him, which I told him, and then immediately regretted because now he'll never take it off. I finally caved and got the JOOLA Ben Johns paddle that Diane has been quietly evangelizing for three months and I owe her a full apology because it's extraordinary.

We cooled down at Piccolo Italian Market after and sat in the back with sandwiches and sparkling water like civilized people and talked about the tournament at Urfer next month. Diane is in. Gabi is in but "only if it's not on a Sunday because of the farmers market" which, same honestly. Marco said he'd "think about it" which in Marco language means he's already looked up the bracket format and has opinions. The summer is brutal but the Tuesday crew shows up every single week and that, I think, is the whole point.