Pickleball

Daily writing prompt

What was the last thing you did for play or fun?

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I learned to play pickleball a month ago. I really enjoyed it, although it seemed like I either were really “on” or “off” with serving the ball. There are so many odd rules in the game. The instructor said that three dads from Washington invented the game to entertain their kids. Supposedly, one of the families had a dog named “Pickles”.

Serving the ball diagonally and making sure it was not in the “kitchen” was one of the things I had to remember. The strokes were something I didn’t have much trouble with…act like you were shaking hands with the handle of the paddle and hit upward. There was an overhead stroke I liked due to my own height. It was much easier than those low strokes for me. The overhead was easy. I had to remember someone who was on my nerves and slap that ball (pretending it was someone’s head) over the net and hit the floor. By the time I left, my anxiety was much better. I had come to the gym with tight shoulders and feeling very anxious. When I left, I felt so much better! The endorphins were working!

I never dreamed that at sixty-seven, I’d feel like I could go out and play a sport. I thought those days were gone. I will start going to another location after Christmas. I know many of the people that go there, so it will get me out of the house and let me get a little exercise and socialization.

I look forward to playing, and hopefully, at least one of my grandchildren will want to play. I know they will be better than I am at it, but I don’t care. It’s all about the fun!

Later…