As usual, I was out playing solo tennis.

 

I was in the northwestern court (my favorite court) – along West 133rd Street -- and there was no one else. Yesterday evening – about six out of the eight courts were occupied in the evening -- today I was the only one playing.

 

Sometimes I cannot understand why players stay away on perfect days.

 

I played for one-hour from 7:55 to 8:55 p.m.

 

I play with nine balls – one for each of the planets.

 

I hit the balls (which I carry in my pockets) – one at a time -- over the net. I try to send them in a trajectory around our planet – unfortunately the planet’s gravity brings the balls down every time.

 

After I have hit all the nine balls – I walk over to the other side – after stretching myself at the poles holding the nets for a few seconds – collect the balls -- put them in my pockets and start the hitting process.

 

One side I play with my right hand and the other side I play with my left hand.

 

Does that make sense?

 

Let me digress and explain:

 

A few years ago -- I fell while playing tennis with a friend -- and hurt my right wrist.

 

The doctors told me that I had fractured my wrist and as result – I had dislocated my bones and also damaged a nerve.

 

Two operations were recommended – one for the bones and one for the nerve --each with a cost of $20,000. I spoke with some friends of mine and they suggested foregoing the operations because being a senior citizen – anything can go wrong -- making matters worse.

 

So I did nothing.

 

I had my right arm in a temporary wrist support and I started playing with my left hand. Soon I got good playing with my left hand.

 

After a couple of months – the bone in the right hand healed – and I was able to start playing with my right hand.

 

Now I play with both hands.

 

The nerve never healed – so I have reduced sensation in my right hand. At my age (septuagenarian) – it is impossible to get all the body parts to function at their optimal level. After I took the fall, I now play solo with both hands. Playing with a friend forces you to run after the ball -- putting you at risk of falling down.

 

Back to my playing:

 

So I continued hitting the balls from one side to the other.

 

Suddenly – I saw a golden glow on the western side of the court.

 

It was our sun – 93 million miles away – peeking through an oak tree across the street as shown in the photograph.

 

It looked like a big tennis ball.

 

I was totally mesmerized.

 

The glow started at 8:09 p.m. and lasted a few minutes -- and then it was gone –as the sun dipped behind the house with the red brick façade with a tall oak tree in the front.

 

It was a show straight from the heavens!

 

On Thursday, the sun rose at 6:12 a.m. and set at 8:54 p.m. giving us day with a length of 14 hours and 42 minutes.

 

The longest day was on June 20 – the first day of summer – when the sun rose at 5:52 a.m. and set at 9:03 p.m. – giving us the longest day of the year: 15-hours and 11-minutes long.

 

The days are getting shorter.

 

So far the day has shortened by 29 minutes – and getting shorter every day.

 

Enjoy the summer while it lasts, officially, for another two months!