Fiend at Court Unplugged
The theme for this weekend is “The Gift of Gratitude for Tennis.” If you participate in league play, you should consider writing a thank you note to the team captain or league organizer at the end of every season. If you think your captain has an easy job, then your captain is doing a terrific job. Chance are a lot is going on behind the scenes to build that perception. If captaining looks hard from your perspective… it is.
In 2022 I have decided to write a hand written thank you note to the captain of every one of my teams. That commitment may be a larger undertaking than it sounds. Currently I am registered or committed to play on 8 league teams for the Spring season. I didn’t fully appreciate the number until I was asked about it during a recreational match I played last week. As the list of active teams droned on and on and on… I came to the stark realization that I may have overcommitted myself. It is a good problem to have.
In celebration of all the thank you note writing I will be doing this year, I am rerunning a great example that I came across in my mother’s house and originally wrote about in 2020. It was written by her friend Ann Thompson who creatively structured it as a report card. When they say that a handwritten note can turn into a cherished artifact, this would be a really good example.
Here is a complete transcript. The original images are also below for those of you that can still read cursive.
Dear Gladys,
I was once again asked to write a letter of appreciation fo you. I suppose I was asked because kind words and thoughts just naturally flow through my heart and mouth.
A year has passed since we last gave you our vote of confidence. Therefore, let’s take a backwards glance over the past year and review your qualifications for leadership.
The following is how we would grade you if you were to receive a report card. And this is the grading system:
R- Regressing
I- Improving
E-Excellent
1. Senility – R (Regressing) This lower grade was given to you for submitting to the middle-aged woman syndrome of changing to a Prince Racket.
2. Respect for Authority – I (Improving) We have observed your continued confidence in our pro’s ability to get things accomplished.
3. Endurance – E (Excellent) Believe it or not, some of us really wanted league to be called off the day the wind was blowing 53 miles an hour. But thanks to you, we endured.
4. Math – R (Regressing) Really now! Being score keeper and going home with only one trophy?
5. Sportsmanship – E (Excellent) You showed superb sportsmanship following the two sets you lost this past year.
6. Personal Appearance – R (Regressing) You’ve really slipped a lot lately. Having only 432 tennis dresses is not keeping up the proper image. We also noticed that you wore a red wristband with a brown dress the other day.
All in all I think this is a report card you would not be ashamed to take home.
Just in case you missed the point of this letter, let me put it another way. Your many hours on the telephone, your hard work, and your patience has not gone unnoticed and we wish to thank you.
Your faithful tennis buddies.
Letter dated 12/13/1977.
