Reunion with Peters

Some people leave such an unforgettable impression that, years later, you cannot help wondering what became of them.

Seven years after spending one extraordinary night at Ronald Peters's one-table "club" in rural Alabama, I returned hoping to see the eccentric old chopper once again. What followed was a reunion filled with laughter, memories, and the unmistakable realization that some people never really change.

By turns hilarious and deeply touching, this true story celebrates an unforgettable friendship born through table tennis—and reminds us that the most memorable opponents are often the ones we meet away from the table.

A Worry for an Old Friend

Soon after moving to Dothan, I nervously asked my table tennis friend Warren about Ronald Peters.

I had sent emails to Peters but never received a reply, and seven years had passed since I had heard that he had cancer. I began to wonder if he might have passed away.

Fortunately, he was still alive.

Not only that—he was still playing in tournaments.

What a relief.

I had to meet him again and thank him for that terrifying yet unforgettable night I had spent at his house.