Takyuu

Is the word for Ping Pong in Japanese.

The S.O. and I have been talking about getting a Ping Pong table ever since we went to Tapoco Lodge last summer. We had looked through catalogs and at the local sports stores and also at Sears. For the kind of table we wanted- I was balking at the price which, for a brand new table, was under 300 dollars. The S.O. was convinced that in her thrift shop expeditions and garage sale trips she could find one cheaper.

We both wanted one-and we’ve taken to going to the recreation center on the post to play from time to time. The place is always full of young, single Soldiers-so the first time I went in there, I was more than a little self conscious about it. I had even asked the guy behind the desk if retirees were really welcome here.

“Sure you are-this is an MWR facility and you are just as welcome here as anyone else.”

“Ok, in that case we would like to check out paddles and a ball”.

The Soldiers, it would seem, were more interested in pool, video games, or watching TV. There has never been a wait to get a ping pong table. It’s also some interesting people watching: the reactions to the older man and the Japanese woman.  It’s interesting to watch all the flirting going on between 19-20 year old men and women.

Alas, those stories should wait for another day.

However, it would seem that to the general public,  Ping Pong is not as popular as it once was-to date we had not come across a used table that fit the bill. For that matter we had not come across that many for sale either.

Hope springs eternal though, and for the third week in a row-the S.O. got me up at 6 AM on a Saturday for something that did not involve golf or sex-which are the only two reasons I get up early on a weekend. She wanted to go over to one of the more wealthy neighborhoods in Shopping Mall to look for deals at their annual neighborhood yard sale. She wanted to get there early, as she was working under the theory that-in a neighborhood where the median house price is $575,000-there would be a lot of really good stuff for sale. She figured the people would be out in great numbers too.

“Take a look outside, you do realize it is going to pour down rain today, don’t you?”

” Yes-but we’ll take an umbrella. Maybe the garages will be open”.

Into the car and off we went. Upon arrival, my weather forecast had come true-it was raining cats and dogs. So as we went from house to house, I stayed in the car and she took the umbrella.

She was right though, lots of folks were out on the theory that rich people must have a better quality of  junk.

After two hours and the rain decreasing slowly, but surely,  we found it: a ping pong table that was the sturdy kind we wanted, and still in good shape. Price $10. The S.O. hesitated-but I made a command decision.

“Give the lady $10.”

“Are you sure?”

“You bet I am”.

“How do we get it home?”

” Leave that to me.”

Two plus hours later-I was returning in a borrowed truck. The table did not have a net, so we stopped and got one. Even including a full tank of gas for the truck I borrowed and some beer as a thank you note- I still figured I saved 200 bucks on a workable table. After we got it home and I cleaned up the top surface, I knew I had made the right decision. The table folds up so, when not in use- I can keep the cars in the garage.

The S.O. still kicked my ass in the first three games though. Damn back spin!