Baby update: so, he's big, but he's not 11lb and unlikely to be. More like 9-10lb, which is roughly the size of baby I assumed I'd have. They are doing another growth scan at 40 weeks by which point I'll take the induction. In the meantime, we will see if he comes of his own accord, 17th July is my bet, dad's going for 13th (because there's an ellipse and he thinks it'd be cool!) Everyone has their story to tell my ex used to say, and it seems a sound statement to make. Recently, house bound, and attempting to distract myself from pelvic and lower back pain I switched on the tennis, mostly to enjoy the regular clonking sound of tennis balls, knock back and forth amidst the odd female grunt of exertion. I have always found it very peaceful to listen to and ultimately, I end up watching and getting involved-mentally and emotionally.
When I was a kid I'd get my racquet out and knock a ball against the wall of the house from the road outside, meditative it would end up being. There is a calm I find in the repetition of things, not least the rally between tennis ball, myself, and the wall. Occasionally someone would join me to take on another human element but often- times, it was me, myself, and mortar. It was ok, as I said, peaceful. It was a quiet, country road, a back road which seemed not to connect anywhere important with anywhere else, so the threat of traffic did not hugely exist.
I digress. This year, not unlike any other, I repeated the televised tradition only to tune in upon Venus Williams vs someone else who gave her a flipping good run about (of course, Venus still won). But the commentator mentioned her recent difficult birth story which I had to investigate further. Sheesh, how she's back on the courts I do not know. Pulmonary embolism 24 hours post birth, just as one would assume the worst is over, surely? Then 6 weeks bed bound to recover, with a new born! And yet, here she is. Back on court, winning her matches, no doubt likely to win the tournament. It's a testament to mental health and will power and some, no doubt, very expensive, private medical care.
Commentators also keep mentioning long levers which is making me smile, I assume they mean arms, but it makes the players appear more athletically perfect, as if a robot or a droid.
I wonder how my birth story will go? I wonder how my tennis playing would be now? I wonder it would be a miracle to stand up for long enough to create a rally with a brick wall. I wonder what the next person’s story is to tell?