I’d been telling myself for years that I needed to exercise, but of course, I felt too busy. As a full-time caregiver to Andy and my other guys, I had perfect excuses for not finding time for myself. And, just like the blog says, I’m living AndyDayEveryDay, which means it’s all about him! No time for me. But, that’s just a lie I’d been believing and promoting. Until I decided to stop it. 

One day I made up my mind to learn how to play Pickleball! I had heard of this funny-named sport, but I didn’t know how to play the game. So I psyched myself up and went to the local YMCA introducing myself to this group of strangers. It was scary! I had been in hiding for far too long, I realized, and stepping out of my regular routine of appointments, lists, goals, meetings, and more bullet points than I could check off, well, I had lost my touch. I used to be able to gab up a good amount of small talk but just putting on my smile and mustering up the bravery to ask, “Can I play?” had me feeling like a gradeschooler again! But, God knew I needed this. Seemingly with a hoot and a hollar someone yelled across the gym and introduced me as the newbie. I know I must have imagined this, but it seemed as if everyone stopped playing, paused their paddles and waved at me with big smiles as if to say, “Where’ve you been? We’ve been waiting for you!”  

Lori, Laurie, Lorie, Laura, Bella, Sue, Joyce, Marti, Gordon, Cheryl, Bruce, Fox, Mark, Virginia, Gene, Jeff and more. Then there is Dennis, Denny and Dennis, or wait, maybe it’s another Dennis and not Denny, I’m not sure. Oh yeah and one more Dennis. In the beginning, if I forgot someone’s name, well chances are it was either Lori or Dennis! Starting out as strangers, these pickle-ballers invited me into their world of volleys and dinks and soon I was scheduling my Andydayeverydays around my court time! 

Over the net I got to know my teammates and they kindly offered advice and tips to improve my game. I quickly found the seasoned players and watched and listened and learned. But, oh there is so much more to Pickleball. During the waterbreaks or a quick change up of teams, I discovered what I was looking for in this sport. Connection. You see, Bella, she’s recovered from breast cancer, and her son was killed, and then her husband passed away. And, Dennis, he suffers with Parkinson’s Disease, but geeeesh, you would never know it, because that guy can bean the ball right down the line! Joyce, she’s a business lady who owns a good amount of properties. And, Denny, he’s having surgery on his shoulder next month. Marti volunteered for the school system and her daughter is a teacher. Gordon, he took a new job as a Chaplain, and he’s got the heart for such a job, but no mercy on the pickleball court! Cheryl, his wife, is redoing her kitchen cupboards and she just beat me on the court…and she’s so pretty, how dare she! Denny just celebrated a big birthday and Sue is visiting her twin grandchildren on the East coast. Lori will soon be receiving a huge honor from her work peers, but she hasn’t told many because she’s very humble. And, well, I’ve told them some about my AndyDayEveryDays….and they listened.

Stories! Tragedies! Joys! This! This is Pickleball!!!