Me and my daughter. Norfolk, Virginia

The sign at the reception of our motel says that the fine for smoking is $250.

Well, someone didn’t give a damn — our room on the second floor stinks of tobacco. But I won’t complain. I’m paying only sixty-five bucks per night — what do I expect? It ain’t Ritz. And I couldn’t even pay in full right away for all three nights so paid for two for now. Maybe it will end up four nights. I hope it does and I hope it doesn’t. Depends on how Taisiya does in her tennis tournament. This morning we flew from Florida to Norfolk, Virginia. Her tournament is on the weekend. From the airport, we ubered straight to the tennis courts. Every hour of practice is precious.

Despite some turbulence in my career, my income in the last year has been solid by most measures, thanks to my consulting work. But, boy, four kids and being a “tennis” family… Some lingering financial scars and debts… The “solid” income is nowhere to be felt, except for the very fact of living a rather complicated and ultimately expensive life. At the end of last year, most of my family moved to Florida, to help our younger kids’ tennis careers, but my oldest son is still in California. He has another year and a half of high school, so I’m spending much time with him. So we’re managing our lives across two coasts.

On top of these already complicated arrangements, there is tennis travel, like this trip to Virginia. Flights, hotels, cars, food. Some days become extremely tight financially. Like now.