Briggs on the Bench, a Racquet in My Hand

http://www.phaethonworld.com/PetitionForBriggs.html That's a small photo of my wife Briggs against my tennis bag on the bench. Briggs always wanted me to make a video like this, and she'd shot some footage after she needed to stop playing. We used to have a hit together at these ball courts in New York every Saturday or Sunday morning, even through winter.

I taught Briggs to play. She had problems with her (wondrous, sparkling blue) eyes as a girl and was never good at sports--she said the only thing she was good at was "the pogo stick," because she knew where it was. (She was always, always making people laugh.) But she was excited seeing me play, saying with that enthusiasm of hers, "The racquet's like an extension of your hand!" and she got so good, people would applaud her shots. I was so proud of her, and so pleased for her that she could finally not only play a sport but play it beautifully.

The last time she had a tennis racquet in hand, happily swinging it back and forth, was in her hospital bed--I'd bought her a new one as a surprise. (I hope you'll join tennis legends Billie Jean King and Chris Evert and the many concerned stars and other public figures listed at this link in ending the death and suffering, and loss, from cancer within years instead of decades; it takes only a minute to sign: http://www.phaethonworld.com/PetitionForBriggs.html )

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Paul Sanderson
• Billie Jean King
• Chris Evert

[PetitionForBriggs]

Thanks for the much-appreciated posts below. Tennis legends Billie Jean King and Chris Evert have now generously signed Briggs’s petition linked in the description under the video--which makes a connection Briggs would have loved; it’s a metal T4000 I’m using in the video, and Billie Jean King was the first player to win a grand slam with a metal racquet, a T2000, which Briggs played with.

[violetdevlin]

Smiling because of your tennis playing, and with tears in my eyes for Briggs and you, I'm going to the petition now to sign it.

[Fret400]

Woh!

That's awesome!:D

[vmf1]

hey man, that's poetry in motion. Wow.

[claudelemke]

is that a T2000? look out, Jimmy Connors! you can hit that ball and then some. and no technology. how about that, huh? one of the best racquets ever! seeing you use it like that, hey, Wilson should bring it back.

[rickap00]

Really really great playing. Excellent. Please, let's all get more people to Briggs's petition. The stars are doing their part, lending their names, let's do ours and end this disease now. Fun video, good cause.

[kerryvlittlewood]

This is so joyful and amazing to watch!! So smooth and controlled and you look like you love it so much. Maybe not as much as you loved Briggs, but your love for her is so far above everything. Your love together is so inspiring. I already signed your strong, heartfelt petition. I hope more people are moved to add their names.

[Bill1122]

I'm at a loss for words. And I'm sorry for your loss. I do know that you loved her with all your heart, I pray you two will be reunited again, in Jesus' name.

[Truedantalion]

Paul, I hardly believed my eyes when I just discovered this video of yours in my subscriptions list. This is a precious moment to me ...

First of all: Really nice tennis practise you had going there, really nice!

And now: How have you been, Paul? It's been ages! And it's so unbelievably good to see this video of yours. If you feel like catching up, please send me a PM; I'd be thrilled!

You just brought a smile to my face. And I know: Briggs loves this video, too! Best wishes ... ~Michael