We had quite a crowd tonight for 100 degree tennis. Crajie! Grace, Judyujin, Thanh, Simon, Young, Jane, SamH, Gloria, Laena, Cheryl. Frustrating as all get out for moi -- my backhands kept hitting the netcord like a kid heading to the videogame store. Argh. 
It was frustrating expending energy into a shot, only to have it in the net or soar behind the baseline. Bad habits & bad techniques ... blah.
Anyways, for a lack of better phrase, here's a public service safety message, I've been meaning to write about for a long time now. Back in my old church, at night we used to walk people to their cars (or to their homes), especially being that it was an urban church. It was pretty much accepted practice. In my old small group it was mostly me and my fellow single friend, Lenny. Lenny would play the big brother card if a younger sister didn't want to be an inconvenience.
When I started going to my current church, I noticed it was not practiced, but I kept it up. Friends would compliment me on my chivalry, which was nice to hear but wasn't really my motivation. It was all about safety for the other person. It has been more awkward to initiate walking someone to their car compared to my old church. My old church had a strong family feel, where there many big brother-little sister-in-Christ (and so on) kind of friendships, so such things were graciously accepted.
Lately at tennis there been a few "sisters" and friend of friends that I don't know well, but I still offered to walk them to their cars (the parking lot is pretty dark in certain areas). I really don't want to make a big deal of it, but I also don't want to give the gals the impression I'm trying to hit on them as well. Nor do I want to I want to impugn a sister's sense of independence and abilities.
Sometimes I think of backing off from this whole thing since it seems like no one cares.
*Except for one thing.* I keep remembering how years ago a young (I think) 20'ish Chinese girl disappeared in DC after meeting up with a friend. Her disapperance was a mystery for a long time. Her brother would regularly make pleas for any information about her whereabouts, and I kept thinking of the pain his family was going through. Also I would think what would I go through had that been my own family member or friend.
I know my friends say they don't want to be an inconvenience, but I rather not live with the regret that I didn't walk a friend to their car should something happen. Oh, that missing girl, I think her body was found in the Potomac River. Last I heard, years later, the family was still trying to get the murder solved.
Yes, even two people won't stop all bad things from happening. We can't forget the recent murder of the British political intern, who stepped in when his female friend was attack. Bad things still happen, but let's still lessen the odds.
So please, ladies, give the guy a break when he offers. Brothers, offer to walk a sister/friend, or even another brother to their car. Use it as a time to catch up, for accountability, etc. Remember, the world is a crazy place, just read the Metro section of the newspaper. Thanks for reading.
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Thanks to James, Jennifer and the Guard Dog for a fun day!
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