How long has it been? Do we even remember the early years? Every thing was so smooth and easy. It was like poetry in motion, just like a finely tuned ballet. If I was down, you picked me up; if I erred you were there to help me. I looked forward to being with you, when I was with you there was always a song on my lips, and a tune and a rhythm going through my head.

Who knows when it began to change? At first, there were only little squabbles. Beer and pizza would make things right. Or we would open some wine, have a birthday cake celebration. A few years ago, when we weren’t content being together in one place, we looked for another and made a change.

I was trying so hard to be honest, to be fair in my decisions. But I would look at you and see that grimace facing back at me. I was giving you all I had, but it wasn’t enough for you. I just wasn’t good enough. You were keeping score, and I was falling further and further behind.

In the last year or so has come the yelling, the screaming, the stamping feet. So much of it I couldn’t understand. I don’t even think you were angry at me, just upset at the way things were going. I would stand there mute, cutting myself off from all the emotion.

There were still some good moments when it all came together again. We would smile and catch fire. But those were few and getting fewer. This summer our meetings became a weight on my shoulders. I looked for reasons not to be there with you. A few weeks ago I made my decision. Resolute and with conviction, not sure I would even be missed, I told you it was over.

So now my Thursday nights are free. After almost two decades I have divorced myself from you, my Thursday Night Tennis League. I am saying goodbye to the wins and the losses, the highs and the lows. The time for arguing line calls has come to an end. I will miss many of my fellow players and the camaraderie over the beer and pizza, but I had to do what my heart said was right. And besides, Thursday night is Trivia Night!