I’m not really gloating because we are still in a drought out here in Northern California and no one in their right mind wants to be in a drought … but January has been beautiful and February is starting out the same. There’s been a lot of moisture from fog and overnight frost but no real rain. So panic is setting in.
Pickle ball mania has taken over my section of the world. It’s basically tennis for people who no longer want to run all over the court chasing balls. Basically, older people. So yesterday I decided to try it along with a couple of friends I’ve had for decades. They’d been in touch with a woman from our old adult soccer team who said she’d teach us. I hadn’t seen the lady in thirty years and thus, did not recognize her. Our conversation went like this:
Me: Are you the one who backed up into a pole and smashed her Mercedes?
Deb: No!!! I’ve never owned a Mercedes! I’m an engineer! Are you the lady who lost her baby at one of our soccer matches?
Liz: That was me. I lost Daniel.
Me: Oh yeah. That was the CFO who smashed her Mercedes.
Pat: That was Susan. She came with that guy who was always getting injured.
Me: The tax attorney. He told me he didn’t feel like he’d gotten enough exercise unless he got injured!
Deb: Speaking of taxes, did they ever throw your ex-husband into prison?
Me: No, somehow he got out of it. But he got into some other shenanigans.
Pat: I bet. Didn’t we find the baby sleeping under a blanket?
Eventually we did get to playing the game … in a way. A pickle ball game is considered successful if you can sustain a volley instead of land “winners.” So it’s fun. Relaxed and not at all serious. Especially if you’re remembering fun times from long ago when you were all young.
Saying nothing in particular 
Jan, I always thought of Pickle Ball as the game that tennis players go to when they retire – until I started playing a year ago. Our conversations aren’t as entertaining as yours and our group doesn’t always behave, especially when the courts are very busy. There is nothing quite like a bunch of grouchy old people. Brag away about your weather. We’re not doing so bad either.
I’m sure once my friends figure out the game they’ll get very competitive. We were at the beginner’s hour and so everyone was on their good behavior!
Hi! I know so many folks who are doing pickle ball these days – and enjoyed your dialogue (ha)
Yes there really are – and they aren’t all older people too. It was funny how we are remembered something completely different about our previous adventures.
😊
Hi Jan,
This is very dry humour. Congrats. I was laughing, which, as you know, is unusual for me. I don’t like to take off my protective metal shield. Had I not, I probably would have convulsed in a most disgusting way. At least that was what Reggie said. You might recall him from our time together at Agincourt. He was the guy in the white shorts. Duke
Yes, dear old Reggie and his white shorts. We blamed him for losing the baby but he was innocent. Ah, memories.
Memories sometimes lead us to run naked down the street. And the cop says, what are you doing pal? And I say, I’m fleeing in the dark from my past. You can’t do that, he says, the past always overtakes you. But he was wrong, cause X = X. The cop didn’t understand I was running to the east. I’ve seen the future, it’s a place about seventy miles east of here. The light is in the future. I need to get there, despite the legal critique. Duke
X=X, indeed. Cool song … kind of reminds me of time standing still. Maybe it does.
duke – that song X = X was really interesting
And got JT’s post so well
😉
Sounds like a good sport. Will you be playing regularly?
I’m not sure – I’m such an awful player that I doubt anyone would want to play with me!
Don’t think we’ve had pickle ball here yet. A matter of time I guess. Never liked tennis do I’ll probably miss the fun .
Ah the joys of picking up threads and testing ones memory. . I bet she did own the merc and is embarrassed to admit it.
I don’t mind tennis as much as tennis players. In our village they are quite snobby. It was bittersweet remembering those old days.
I’ve never played or seen anyone play pickle ball. There must be courts around here somewhere, right? I’d love to overhear the kinds of conversations you do. And the exercise wouldn’t hurt me either.
Really? Maybe you don’t have as many aging tennis players as we do! I’m having more and more of those kinds of conversations.
Tennis isn’t big around here. People bike or kayak more.
I know nothing of the game Pickle Ball but the conversation ….I know that well I can spend hours with friends and family going round in ever decreasing circles !! Love it 💜💜
Thanks Willow. It sounds like Pickle ball hasn’t made it to the UK.
Not yet or it may of and I have just not heard of it 😃
Love the dry humor here, Jan :). Made me chuckle just when I needed it.
Thanks Damyanti!
I’ve started to get into pickle ball for the exact same reason: pickle ball is tennis without all the running. I can do without any sprained ankles or strained leg muscles.
I did have sore muscles the next day but it felt good.
Don’t you love conversations like that? It reminds me of listening to one of the many conversations my sister-in-law has with her friends at coffee mornings, although, usually, they’re all trying to talk at the same time.
I like the sound of Pickle Ball. It sounds like something I wouldn’t mind trying.
I’ve had those kind of conversations! Pickle ball seemed a lot friendlier than tennis. In my village, people take their tennis games very seriously and generally dress all in white. But there was a lot of laughing on the pickle ball court!
I thoroughly enjoyed this slice-of-life post, Jan, for its poignancy and humor. Funny how life unfolds in these scenes, and so beautifully you captured it here. I’m enjoying these warm days in the Bay Area like you, and, like you, dreading what this dry hot stage will result in. Cheers to life, Jan, and your accomplished writing.
Thanks Jet. It’s hard to relax and enjoy good weather in California as the fire season just keeps growing.
Thanks for the chuckles, Jan. The daffodils look good while it’s winter here.
My pleasure. Daffodils always bloom in February here in California. However, we have had a long period without rain which is very worrisome. Thanks for stopping by!
The Pickleball craze hasn’t really caught on in Maine yet. Which is surprising since we’re considered the “oldest” state in the nation. Love the reunion conversation. 😉
I first heard of pickle ball from my sister who lives in a retirement community in Phoenix. It’s just starting to take hold here in Northern California. So you never know! I think it’s so popular because it doesn’t take the stamina that tennis does. And the courts are smaller so it doesn’t take as much space.
I like that idea. My stamina sure isn’t what it used to be..
Hi there. I popped over here from Ally’s blogroll. I see a few of my blogger buddies have already found you. I would love to play pickleball and have been thinking about fining a group. Here in SoCal, we can play year-round. I love your pre-game conversation!
Hi Janis,
On the courts we went to there were plenty of pickup games. We went during “beginner’s hour” and everyone was so friendly. Thanks for popping by! Jan
Hi, Ally Bean sent me.
Interesting Blog!
Thanks Catsandcoffee! Nice to meet you.
I love watching tennis, but not playing it. I found it exhausting even in my mid 20s. I prefer table tennis. And I actually never tried pickle ball but it seems like my kinda sport.
Tennis takes a lot of discipline and I just like to go out and have fun with friends.
Not every sport is for everyone. You have to find sth that you first and foremost enjoy. For me, it’s swimming. I think I was a fish in my past life.
Pickle Ball….LOL!
JT, the conversation was a Pickle Ball! 😂😂
My foray into pickle ball didn’t last. I had a severe reaction to the covid booster shot and ended up in bed for three days!
OH DEAR!
I had a sore armpit for 2 days from my booster. That was it!
Anyway, you’re good to go now!