Smash-n-Splash!

Tiny People

I few years ago, actually a few decades ago, I was sitting in my car outside of the pro-shop of the Deerfield Beach Tennis Center waiting for my partner to show up. I was sitting there watching the little kids play, they were doing the little kiddie tennis training class and I was really feeling the joy watching as the little tiny people no taller than the net with big heads ran about the tennis courts flailing their racquets in the air at the ball in futility and then spending most of their time chasing down the errant tennis balls. They were all zigzagging about and it was a humorous and joyful show to watch

Grassy Area

I noticed the big plastic banner stretched across the clubhouse that read, “Smash and Splash! Kids Tennis Summer Camp!”.  I saw in the grassy area behind the pro-shop they had a whole bunch of little plastic kiddie swimming pools spread out. You know, the green ones with the little turtles on it? You know the ones, I, like everyone else had one of those when I was a little turtle myself and it brought back fond memories.  Then I realized the summer camp was, the kids would play tennis until they were worn out and hot, and then they jump in the little pools to cool off and continue to have fun.  Sounds wonderful right?

Like a Dolphin

Then I thought, “You know? Isn’t that what I have been doing all these years? I play tennis, and after I am done, I ride my bike down to the beach and jump into the ocean and cool off. ??”  and I thought, “Yeah, that is what I have been doing!” And you know what?? That is one of the most wonderful, exhilarating experiences in the whole world! Because I love playing tennis, that in itself is a world champion personal favorite, and then to jump in the ocean afterward and be on the beach with the sand in your toes and the sun shining,  you know, you are hot and sweaty, and you jump in the ocean and that cool salt water waves are washing over you, and they next thing you know you jumping about and playing in the water and bodysurfing in the waves like a dolphin. I thought about all those activities and how amazing they feel combined together and I decided, that is it, this is The Smash and Splash! The Surf and Turf! And this is like my religion to me now.  A transformative immersive experience for mind, body and soul.  This is my favorite thing to do, I will get on my bike,  ride to the tennis courts,  wind up playing too much tennis to where I can barely pedal to the beach, and while I am lazily pedaling east towards the beach, what I am thinking is that once I get to the beach I can finally lay down and relax, get a sun tan!-maybe even take a nap, anyway you know what happens when I get to the beach? Waves start kicking up! And even though I am totally worn out from riding my bike for miles and playing several sets of tennis until my face is red and I am about to pass out, Somehow, I suddenly have enough energy to jump in the water and start riding waves over and over like a fish! After a little while I’ll tell myself that this is the last wave and time to go, but after the salty waves delivers me to the beach and I wash ashore and collect sand up my shorts, I’ll say WOWwwww, one more time!! and then I will go over and over and over! Then the really hard part! Trying to pedal my ass back home! Talk about some limp wobble wet noodle legs and dizzy spells swirling through my head! But It is always worth it! I know a lot of you have done the same thing, are there any other smash and splashers out there? If you haven’t tried this combination of activities, I demand that you do before your ride on this big blue marble is over!

All right Surf-n-Turfers see you on the beach!