Home From Two More Senior Table Tennis Tournaments

 Last Saturday I competed in the Pasadena Senior Games.  This was my second year participating, and I won the Silver medal in Women 60-64 years of age.  I arrived early to watch some of the advanced women play in the 1:00 afternoon group.  They were formidable!  I was amazed at their skills and fierceness.  It was like being at the Olympics.  I soaked up the talent and electricity in the air.  

I was greeted enthusiastically by a few of the top players from my club.  Their warmth and support made a huge difference in my emotional state and gave me a sense of belonging.   They have so much dedication and experience.  Once it was my turn, Stacy Zhang, one of my favorite players,  patted my shoulders, said my name, and urged me into position.  It felt like I was part of their team, and reminded me of when I competed as a young gymnast.  LATTA has incredible players.  I hadn’t realized these ladies would be there; it felt like a tribe.  They have very high ratings.  Mine had started climbing, and it made me a bit nervous.

A couple women I met last year came up to me after the matches, expressing excitement and amazement over how much I had improved.  That was so kind and generous of them.  I started lessons last May, and my coaches Rudy Miranda and Tawny Banh have really worked me intensely.  It feels like an accelerated and highly creative pace.  They see your possibilities and natural gifts.  The personal game is a very individual design, like choreography.  You put in so many hours on and off the court, practicing, repeating, and refining.

I felt exhausted but relieved after the tournament.  The more I compete, the more I get to know people.  It’s a circuit.  I went right back to class the next day and then got some rest and chores done at home.  It takes time to recover.

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Feminine T Shirts That Fit Women

 I recently purchased a couple of t shirts online from a Colorado company called Onno.  Their website is Onno.com.  I am ecstatic with the superb fit, high quality cotton, hemp, and bamboo material.  

Now that I am playing table tennis almost daily, I wanted to switch to wearing breathable fabrics and incorporate my favorite colors.  The clothing sold for these athletes does not suit me.  It’s made of polyester, the cuts don’t show the female physique, and the extra small jersey I ordered online hung on me, baggy, unflattering, and masculine looking.

I found a few pair of linen shorts from Nordstrom.  They are light, airy, and colorful.  They match the Onno tees beautifully.  It feels right to wear colors that work with my hair and skin.  These outfits will meet the requirements for the tournaments I’m playing, yet still offer a sense of comfort, age appropriateness, and personal expression.

What do you wear when you exercise?  Does the color of your clothing affect your mood?  It sure does mine…I now have pale pink, powder blue, dirty purple, calming green and cherry red.  I can’t wait to wear them all to play!

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Finding Practice Partners in Table Tennis

 

Finding practice partners for table tennis can be a challenge, especially as a woman.    Everything starts at the top.  It took me four tries to discover a place where people watched me taking private lessons and then invited me to play.  I stuck with it and studied the top athletes while they practiced.

Many players believe that playing with someone who is at a lower level than they are is a waste of time.  They avoid “beginners” like the plague.  I disagree.  I look for people who are exact, calm, healthy and focused.  They usually learn the skills quickly, or are willing to practice drills for accuracy.  They are mature and relaxed, not reactive and angry.

If you are playing with someone newer to the sport than you are, you can still loop their serves, work on your attack shots, flick the short balls, and smash the medium balls.  You have to look for the opportunity and incorporate their natural strengths.   Sometimes I will make up an exercise that suits the partner’s natural abilities.  It could be a good arm, speed, agility, excellent serves, or solid blocks.   They are using what they do well, and you can work on your weaknesses.

I recently was asked by a guy standing across the floor at my club, “Hey! Do you want to hit?”  “Definitely,” I thought.  We warmed up with very long forehand and backhand rallies, in unison.  I told him that my coach wants me to practice games, but that I knew he could easily beat me.  He suggested, “How about if we play a game, but I won’t attack?”  I was so pleased.  How thoughtful.  The style he played was soft balls, and I felt disoriented.  My coach challenges me with hard, fast, high spin shots.  This was far less pressure and demand.  It felt foreign, and my body wasn’t sure what to do.  I mentally reminded myself to loop and use topspin. 

We had some excellent rallies, and although he still beat me all three games,  we were both challenged and enjoyed the workout.  Finding a person who is creative, loves to play, and doesn’t display arrogance is key.  You want people who see your potential, and recognize your discipline.    I look for the artistic types.  They are constantly growing and learning.  Their focus is on improvement, not on demeaning you.  

I have some photos from the US Open that Blogger is not allowing me to post.  Have any of you fellow bloggers encountered this?  I used to hit a tab that allowed cookies, but it is no longer appearing.

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Played Table Tennis in the US Open, Women’s 60 to 65

 

Last month I traveled to Las Vegas,  Nevada, and competed in the US Open.  My coaches warned me that the ladies in my age group would be very experienced, and suggested that I not worry about winning or losing.  They were right.  I was nowhere near their level, but I enjoyed every minute of the games.  As a dancer, I followed the talent, and the same concept works in table tennis.

Lily Yip, in the rainbow shirt, is one of my favorite players.  She is still in gorgeous shape, and has a fierce dedication to the sport.  She complimented me on my yoga, and asked me how my matches went.  When I explained the gap in skill level and experience, she advised me to keep practicing.  She has a smile filled with light and is very warm.  I loved meeting her.  She and her coach have a very spiritual connection.  I sat and watched all their games and practices in the semi finals and finals.  It was thrilling.

The lady next to me also easily beat me.  I was able to score several points, though, to my relief.  She came and watched my match in the Under 1000 category.  It was helpful to have someone smiling when I scored and cheering for me.  We got along well.  She cleans houses for a living.  She learned to play in tournaments as a teenager.  

The Mandalay Bay was a gorgeous hotel.  I really enjoyed staying there.  It was convenient to go back to my room and eat, stretch, and soak in the tub.  This was my view at sunset from the window.  The hotel was easy to find from the 15 freeway,  and parking was convenient.  I would definitely stay there again.  I enjoyed Mexican food for dinner.  There was a VERY long line at Starbucks each morning, but that didn’t stop us coffee addicts.

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Parents Who Demand Their Child Be the Best

 

When I was a young dancer, a mother of one of the girls who was from Japan used to glare at me with hatred when we passed in the halls.  I would smile and say hi to her, but she was a raging Tiger Mother.  Our teachers had given me a half scholarship and asked me to work as a teacher’s assistant each afternoon.  The money I made I used to pay for  my classes, pointe shoes, costumes and ballet seminars.  This woman felt her daughter should have been chosen for the opportunity.  She wasn’t.  I had natural teaching abilities that were evident at a very young age..  I was on the studio payroll at thirteen.  My father was impressed that the owner, Mr. Kirkpatrick, deducted social security taxes from my check each week.

Mrs. T. was livid, and she made no attempt to hide it.  She placed extreme pressure on her shy, quiet daughter.  The girl had natural talent, but lacked the drive, desire and confidence to excel.  To me, she seemed extremely obedient, submissive, and almost ashamed.  She looked down a lot, apologetically.

My dad used to tell my brothers and I,  “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.”  That stayed with me.   In table tennis, if I improve and am able to apply what I learn under pressure, I am happy.  I have played with people from cultures who can’t bear to lose even one point to a woman who looks like me.  They react in a panic, and immediately lie, cheat, or order me to leave the table and play with someone from my own race.  This is the dark side of being a poor sport.  Many are experienced and adept cheaters.  In singing and dancing, you can’t fake what you do.  If you don’t hit the high C, the audience hears it.   If you are out of shape, you won’t be able to perform the choreography to a professional standard.

I am thankful now that I learned as a child to congratulate the winner,  not get upset by losses, and to develop the discipline to go back to class or practice the next day.

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An Exciting Time Competing in the 2025 San Diego Senior Games

 

Gary Nishikida, Stephenie Lawton, Faye Gilbert and Arun Kumar 

Mixed Doubles Gold Medalists 

The San Diego Senior Games, 2025.

Last Sunday I drove one hundred and forty miles from Wrightwood, California to the Balboa Park Activities Center in San Diego.  I got up at 4:00 a.m., and made coffee and breakfast.  I packed a light lunch of fresh peaches, raw cashews, and bagged up  a couple of homemade scones.  

It was still dark outside when I warmed up the car at 5:30 a.m.  Wearing my table tennis dress and a shawl I had once knit for my mother, I headed down I-15,  my hand written directions laying on the seat next to me.  It was a straight shot to San Diego with very little traffic, which is highly unusual for this commute.  My friend Anita, who is a local,  gave me perfect directions.

I was of the first players to arrive.  There was plenty of parking, right near the building.  I found shelter from the sprinkling rain and I started my Russian conditioning warm up just outside of the building.  People began drifting into line to register.  I was asked to compete in women’s doubles and mixed doubles, due to low enrollment.  I agreed.  

It was an exciting and challenging day.  I am not used to playing so many matches in a row.  It was exhausting, and I felt my blood sugar drop around noon.  I was very glad I had packed some healthy snacks and brought water.  The levels were varied.  I played people who are new to the sport and was also paired with the top male player in the club.   That was very exciting!   Our opponent is  one of the best in the world!  I focused on staying calm, watching the ball, and thinking of it all as choreography.    Practicing at our local community centers, senior center, and training with the pros at Allen and Sons helped me greatly.  Anastasia, Fovad, Bella, Rudy and Zichery prepared me for the tournament.  

To my surprise and delight, I was awarded Gold in Women’s Singles, 60-65, Gold in Mixed Doubles, 60-65, and Silver in Women’s Doubles.  Phew!  It was definitely worth all of the private lessons, group classes, and hours of practice and off the court training.  It is four days later, and I am still recovering.  

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Avoiding Workaholic Tendencies in Retirement

 

While practicing table tennis with a lady from my club the other day, I realized that I had made my schedule far too grueling.  She agreed, and admitted that she had done the same thing, at eighty.  She is still working.  I was getting up at 4:30 a.m. to drive extremely long distances to train.  An hour private lesson was stacked private in front of a stressful two hour group lessons.  I felt exhausted, and rarely had a day off…the grind I had choreographed continued.

I realized that I was recreating the workaholic lifestyle I led as a dancer.  I always had to be in incredible shape, and on top of my game.  Now Iwas pushing myself too hard, neglecting my household chores, and overworking, this time as a senior athlete.  It’s easy to slip into this behavior if you have that kind of personality.  This was not how I envisioned as my retirement.  What about travel, hobbies, and nature?

I changed my schedule, cut back on some driving and commitments, and decided to enjoy more leisure at the cabin.  What a relief to cook delicious meals, pick up my knitting, and sweat it out in the sauna.  It takes mental focus to not become over scheduled.  Sometimes we have to compare our actions with our vision.

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Pick and Choose Wisely

 

When I was nineteen, dancing in my first production show, I was invited out after the second show by a male dancer who I greatly admired. He was gorgeous, funny, in incredible shape, and we got along well.  I was hopeful that this was the beginning of an exciting romance.

After eating a late dinner at a restaurant that he chose, he wanted to sit in the casino and gamble. I said I would watch.   We had just cashed our paychecks. I had mine mentally organized with the bills I needed to pay: rent, utilities, groceries, gas for the car, and my precious ballet classes.

As I sat next to him on a tall leather stool, I watched him gamble away his entire paycheck.  It made me feel sick to my stomach.  My energy deflated, I wondered how he was going to pay all of his bills.  The several hundred dollars he had earned had been eaten up eaten up by the machines over a few hours.  I was bored and exhausted.

So much for my hopes of a romantic evening and future with him.  It was quite a lesson.  As we walked out, he pointed of a picture of himself on the wall of the casino.  “See that,” he bragged.  “That’s me when I won $10,000.00.  It will happen again.”  He was flanked by two showgirls.  My heart sank.  I doubted it.

In spite of all he had going for him, he was self destructive.  These holes  grow larger as people age.    In retrospect, I am glad now that I learned of his addictions early on…I knew that lifestyle wouldn’t work for me.  

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Taking a Blogging Break

 Hi blogging friends.  I am taking a break from my blog, due to a very busy schedule.  Hope everyone is having a fabulous summer…I am!  Have met some exciting and talented people through table tennis, and am enjoying the challenging training.  Hope you are all staying fit, happy, and healthy!  Keep me posted on how you are doing…

Party for the Medal Winners of the 2025 Pasadena Senior Games

 

This afternoon I attended a party for the medal winners of the Pasadena Senior Games.  “Wear your medals!” The invitation stated.  I got ready early, walked the dogs, and drove down the mountain onto the 15 South, and then took the 210 West to Pasadena.  It was a sunny and quiet day.  I found parking near the Metro station and the senior center.

Since we arrived early, I chatted with a couple of men in the lobby.  Both were lean and athletic.  They pushed themselves very hard, and let me know their accomplishments and times.  Both were gold medalists.  “Lots of Type A’s,” I chuckled to myself.  The woman sitting next to me at lunch had a backpack full of medals that  she had accumulated this year!  She has plans to complete a triathalon tomorrow.   It sounds like a demanding and exhausting lifestyle.

Some were headed to the Nationals and World Games.  I will wait until next year.  I am mostly interested in private lessons and training.  I love the learning aspect.  It makes the games so much easier, by giving me a toolbox.  Some people never lose that competitive edge.  It’s still nice to relax and take a rest, though.  

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Shifting Your Expenses in Retirement

 As the years pass in retirement, you may find that your priorities change.  You could become more interested in travel, or decide to take up a new hobby.  If you keep track of what you’re spending, you can cut back in a separate area of your budget to make up the difference.

For example, while in Anacapri, I chose to stay in an inexpensive bed and breakfast, with a simple room.  I was able to take the local bus to my favorite restaurant each afternoon, right on the water.  I could walk around and visit the  local shops, markets and cafes.  It was easy to entertain myself by knitting on the patio, reading a book, or writing in my journal.  The views and people were exquisite.

This year, since I am spending money on private table tennis lessons, I will most likely cut out a trip to Europe next Spring.  The extra gas and drive time to get the best training have to be accounted for,  and I’ve already made adjustments made to the budget.

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A Joyous Time at the Pasadena Senior Games

 

This morning I played table tennis in Pasadena at The Senior Games.  I was going to wait a year to enter, but decided to just go for it.  My brother died of a stroke at 49, and tomorrow is not promised.  I decided to do it for the experience.

The woman in the above photo won Gold.  Her name is Bonnie, and she is Taiwanese.  She is a spectacular and highly trained player.   She was incredibly kind and patient with me.  “Stephenie, let’s take a photo together with our medals,” she suggested.  I was so touched.  I won Silver due to low enrollment.

I visualized winning a medal for weeks before the competition.  I thought it was funny that I won one by default, since I was way out of my league. That’s how visualization works, you begin with the end in mind.  

My goals were to stay in the game, return all the serves, make all of my serves without errors, and to keep the ball low.  I was able to reach those goals.  Getting in shape for the tournament took many hours of lessons, coaching, and practice.  

Bonnie’s doubles partner played like a confident star in the Men’s Singles.  After our match, he shouted out to me, “I can’t believe you’ve only been playing for three months!  You have big potential.”  That was such a thrilling compliment.  Another man told us that he couldn’t believe we were seniors.  Bonnie looks about seventeen, with long, firm legs.  In the above photo, I am practicing with a talented eighteen year old.

Fun times! So glad I didn’t chicken out…

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Are You Competitive?

 

When my dad was still alive, he went and played bridge at the bridge club every day. “I like the competition,” he told me.  I found that interesting, since he got along so well with everybody.  He still liked to win.  He would get discouraged when he didn’t play well.  Well into his eighties, he was still winning tournaments, and traveled around the Bay Area to attend them.

I think of him often when I am playing matches in table tennis.  I am not used to competing, because as a dancer, we all had the job.  It was more important to cooperate and work together.  There weren’t winners and losers. It has surprised me how people’s personalities can change once you start keeping score.  Some players’ eyes start blazing.

I am happy if I play well.  My main goal is to improve.  Staying calm, being a good sport, and learning how to keep score and break ties are what I’m working on right now.  I find that the masters stand quietly and surprise people with their ease of technique.  They don’t worry about mistakes.  They are non reactive.  Off the table training makes a huge difference, too.  Strength, agility, and speed can help make up for technical deficiencies, especially when competing with seniors.

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Staying Fit in Retirement

 

Fitness can continue through your entire life, if you make adjustments.  Although I can no longer take ballet or gymnastics classes, hiking, table tennis, yoga, kayaking and mat exercises are still  very doable.

Going barefoot and touching a tree ignites the grounding current.  This is very powerful and electric.  Children do this naturally, going barefoot in the summer.  I loved the magnetic healing forces I felt from the grass in Vienna, while visiting the outdoor pool with my dancer friends.  We spent three lovely months there, on tour with the Broadway hit, “42nd Street.”

Swimming in Anacapri had the same effect.  Being out in nature and absorbing the sunshine, the healing effects of the saltwater, and the gorgeous views kept me feeling young and happy.  

Members from the Senior Games report that participating in a sport makes them feel like a kid again.  The body loves a challenge.  It doesn’t want to be beat up, but when you are lean and fit, you feel more yourself…capable and confident.

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Using Your Talents

 

One of the most grounding and satisfying things we can do in life is to use our talents.  We are not meant to sit on them!  Frank Sinatra said in an interview that he vocalized two hours a day, whether he was performing or not.  It showed.  That gave him the confidence to always be able to perform.

Our specific abilities lie latent within us and need to be developed.  If they are not, they stay dormant, like a piece of unsculpted clay.  Through training, practice, and study, we will improve and reach our potential. 

Even as we age, certain talents can still be developed.  Although I can no longer take ballet classes, I find rehearsing my music, playing table tennis, and knitting clothes to be very rewarding.  My father played bridge every day, until he was eight-eight, and he loved it.  He taught the beginners, mostly women,  and confided in me that they never improved, which annoyed him.  I thought it was funny.  I think they were there for social reason, and possibly in hopes of meeting a rich man.

What are your gifts?  How do you express them?

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A Simple Solo Week in Enchanting Anacapri, Italy

 

I recently returned from an inspiring and incredible journey to Anacapri.  I spent a week at a charming bed and breakfast, in a simple room that was only 750 Euros for the week.  That included a hearty breakfast!  What a deal.  Each morning I had a frothy cappuccino, salami and cheese sandwich, kiwis and oranges from their garden, and a delicious glass of juice.  I think it was papaya…something orange, sweet, and delicious!

I flew business class into Naples, Napoli.  From there, I hopped on the Ali bus, (for five Euros,) to the port, and purchased a ferry ticket to Capri, a stunningly beautiful island.  I had arranged with Claudio, the owner of the bed and breakfast, to pick me up at the port.  He and his little dog arrived and transported me up the steep and narrow street to his lovely home.  staying  in a neighborhood was so special…It felt like living like a local.  I absolutely loved it.  

We were a twenty-five minute scenic walk from the beach.  I decided to avoid crowds, touristy sites, and rushing, and instead knit on the patio and went to the beach every day.  It was so relaxing and peaceful.

The nature was so powerful.  My body was filled with spiritual light and energy from the healing water I felt a strong and grounding effect on my aura from the huge rocks and embankment.

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Resting in Retirement

 

Although many retirees worry about becoming bored in retirement, I have found I have the exact opposite challenge.  I need to schedule time for rest.  Between all of the physical activity I get, playing ping pong, hiking, doing yoga, Pilates, and my Russian conditioning exercises, I can easily become exhausted.

So, I decided to work efficiently, and not overtrain.  That habit brought me under the surgeon’s knife.  My mom used to tell me I was overexercising, and she was right.  It led to osteoarthritis.  Now that my replaced hips have healed, I am limiting the hours that I will push myself,  physically, even if I feel pressured by others.  We only get one body.  Exercise can be addictive.  

Spring is here!  I love it when the tulips and daffodils bloom.  The fruit trees have blossoms, too.  It is still chilly enough to sit by the fire, though.

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Safe From the Los Angeles Fires

 

Thank you for your inquiries about my safety.  I have been fortunate, so far…the devastation is mind boggling.  I haven’t been able to blog because this disaster has made me feel sick.  Many of the dancers and dance teachers I worked with for decades have lost their homes and neighborhoods.  It is tragic.   None of us saw this coming.

 Knitting has helped me to ground and be productive.  I finished the pink socks.  I plan to gift them to my friend who lost her childhood home and current residence in Malibu.  I used to housesit for her parents, and the views and energy were breathtaking.

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Traveling in EuropeTo Celebrate Turning Sixty

 

Our London tour group enjoyed a delicious lunch upstairs, at The White Lion.  I chose the most flavorful meat pie.  It tasted oh so British, with a divine buttery crust and brown gravy.  

The bathroom was just gorgeous.  I loved the hand painted sinks, carved framed mirrors and attention to detail.

Look at that wallpaper!  The tiles and doors were so pretty, too.  That was my first time eating in a pub.  What fun!  I would say we started at the top.  

I have more photos to show you, but am having issues uploading them, so until next time…

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I Love London

 

While visiting London last month, I took a three day tour pre cruise with some of my fellow passengers.  

We all stayed at The Raddison Bleu Hotel.  The tour bus picked us up each morning and took us to various locations.

I met with my  friends to celebrate our birthdays.  They have the most gorgeous flat in London!  I took the bus there from my hotel, and really enjoyed the scenery.  The view and dinner that we shared were both spectacular.  Osky made the delectable lamb, garlic rice, and beans, and Richard baked us our scrumptious from scratch carrot cake.  I ate every bite.  It was so much fun to see them.

We had spectacular weather!  I was expecting rain, but the sun was shining, and we never needed an umbrella.

My sweet friend Sara from our MGM days met me for dinner the night I arrived. She is so reliable and dependable.  We had a fantastic conversation, as we always do.  We met backstage over forty years ago.

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