Two Great Dames and a Shiney Pate

It's that time of year when you hear the pitter patter of little feet. No, not back to school time but the US Open. Tennis that is - with the gentle patter of ball people as they retreive bouncy lime spheres for the best in tennis. Much going on this year. The home of the U.S. Open was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. She accepted the honors with the wry comment, "Women didn't always get treated this way." While Billie Jean had her day, Martina Navratilova announced this will be her final appearance at the Open at the prime age of 50.

Adding even more sentimental fuel is Andre Agassi. The wild-haired boy has transformed into a shiney-pated father with a spiritual bent and a vociferous New York fan base. He will be ending his 21 year career at the US Open, the first grand slam title he ever captured. Agassi has always been an easy guy to root for, flamboyant on the court, gracious to opponents and audiences alike. I mean, how can you not like a guy that bestows the soulful Namaste to his fans after every win? After his epic classic showdown with James Blake at last year's Open, and the more somber loss to Raphael Nadal at Wimbledon, Andre's finally calling it quits. Referring to his troublesome back which seizes up at the most inopportune moments. Like last year's final with Roger Federer. While Agassi bids tennis a tearful farewell the newly acknowledged couple of Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick storm Flushing with with long limbs and vicious first serves. Oh that Ernesto dwindles into a mere storm for the weekend.

Pluto Demoted

What's a planet to do? Apparently the folks at the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of it's planetary status held since its discovery in 1930. How does one un-do a planet? What of all the books on Pluto as the 9th planet. More importantly, what happens to the zodiacal sign of Scorpio which is ruled by Pluto? Although it takes this tiny "dwarf planet" 248 years to complete its cycle around the zodiac, this planet (pardon me, EX planet) packs one hell of a wallop. During it's transit within a sign, (anywhere from 12 to 31 years!) this planet drills transformation, rebirth & regeneration. A word often associated with Pluto is Transcendence. But you can not hold on to that which is comfortable while transcending. Everything known will be obliterated. Only after the death of the old self can the new emerge. And Pluto takes charge of soul transformation. Or it used it. I wonder who's gonna rule Scorpio, or the 8th House (House of Sex & Relationships) for that matter now that little ole Pluto has gone by the way of ex-planets.