Today I Happen To Be On Cloud 13
by
Paul
·
November 22, 2020
On Tuesday October 24, 2017 around 4 o’clock I went to my carom table in my home and started to practice and hit a few balls.
My friend and I for the last year or so have been saying to each other that whomever runs ten first must call the other. Weeks went buy and so did months.
Each time I go to the table to play I think about my highest run in the past. It was in the early 70’s that I that glorious run of 12.
But on this day something was different. As I made shot after shot I suddenly realized I was on a run of 9. I thought: Wouldn’t it be nice to run 10 so I can finally call my friend and tell him. I had a fairly decent shot. But as you know, no shot is guaranteed in 3-cushion. I wanted this point so badly that as I went down to shoot I got back up right away and said to myself: I must chalk up.
One thing I didn’t want to happen was that I miscue on my 10th point. I studied the shot again and again. Then, when I was finally ready, I pulled the trigger and watched my cue ball go 3 rails to make my 10th point.
Even though it was on my own table in my home, and I was all by myself, I jumped up and had a big smile on my face. I felt as if there were people applauding me and yelling thats the way to go Professor-Q-Ball. I couldn’t wait to make the call.
Then I realized I was alone and the next thought that came into my head was wait a minute I am still at the table. Maybe I can break my all time record of 12. As I made the 11TH and 12th points my heart was pounding and I was praying please let me make the next shot to break my record.
I had two shots to pick from. One was very difficult and the other was easier, but had a possible kiss. As I went down to shoot, my mind was telling me not to take the easy shot. I always heard the better players say, If you think there may be a kiss, avoid the shot.
So instead I chose to shoot the harder one and I made it! And once again the crowd went wild. (Only to realize again it was In my mind).
Finally after all these years, I had broken my record for a high run on a my Gabriels Carom table. The 14th shot was not an easy one.. so that is where it ended. But it was truly a great feeling being up there on cloud 13.
