Finding Pickleball

 “Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.”

---Mike Singletary

 

I have never been the sporty type. Being a child in the 1960s and 1970s, of course I was shoved outside every day by my mother and instructed to, “Go play! Ride your bike, play something, go!” I usually wound up annoying my brother and his friends, riding my bike, or just going to the beach to throw rocks. I was never on a team, never wanted to learn to skate, kick a ball, or do backflips on the uneven bars. OK, the backflips would never have happened even if I’d wanted to, but still. Sports were not on my radar unless shoving my way through the lunch line counts. 

In my forties I found badminton, and while that still doesn’t make me an athlete, the game really is very important in my life. I’ve made good friends, gotten some much-needed exercise, and learned that spending an hour whacking birds is a great way to relieve stress. Recently, I tried a new sport; I’ve played badminton for ten years now, something new can be fun, right?

 

Hello, pickleball! Yes, that game that every woman of a certain age…ahem…seems to take up. According the US Pickleball Association (yes, that’s really a thing) the average age of a pickleball player is 43.5 years old. Already, before even stepping on the court, at the age of 57, I am solidly above average! Go me. So, I set out to find a game, someone that could teach me, and maybe some players who needed a fourth etc. I was jumping in with both feet, securely wrapped in Ace bandages of course, because these ankles are not what they used to be. I settled on a group that plays at Swampscott Middle School after seeing a post on Facebook looking for new players. On a perfect fall morning, on tennis courts taped with pickleball lines, I was ready to be brave enough to stink at something new, and boy did I stink. 

 

Yes, there is a net, a court, and paddles, so while I thought it would be similar to badminton, it’s really not. There is much more finesse in pickleball. You don’t really smash like you do in badminton. The strategic shot in many pickleball matches is the dink. No, that’s not a typo. A dink is a carefully placed move to score a point. The shots are much more controlled; it’s about keeping the game moving, getting the ball over the net (a challenge for me, even though the net is lower than badminton) and having a match that everyone can enjoy. Of course, there is still competition, but it’s a game of carefully measured moves and some low-key strategy. Clearly this will be a huge adjustment for me. The court is also much smaller, and there is a section that’s called the “no volley zone.” I’m still a bit unclear on when you can cross into that, and when you can’t. There’s some rule about where the ball bounces, but honestly, the problem might be that the no volley zone is also called “the kitchen” and that’s never been a place where I have found much success. 

Pickleball is also much more of an outdoor sport than I realized. Wind impacts the ball, which is like a wiffle ball, it’s lightweight plastic and has holes in it. It still wicked hurts when it hits you in the eye, just like a shuttlecock, but again, that’s a me thing, and not a game thing. The first safety rule isn’t about dodging the dink though, it’s about going backwards. One of the leading causes of injuries in the game is shuffling backwards and falling down. My father always told me, “Always go forward, not backwards. You’re not going that way, also you’ll fall over.” Turns out he was right. 

So far, my only significant accomplishment on the court is showing up. That’s important though, right? You can’t win if you don’t play, but for me, it’s not about winning. Hell, at this point I don’t even know how many points make a win. My goals are gradual. I’ve managed to show up, then I bought my own paddle, and pretty soon I might actually score a point. In the meantime it’s been a fun challenge to meet new people and share a little time learning a new skill. Also, I scored some new tennis shoes from a friend, and they’re red, so it’s game on!

 

Creating Community

 

“It’s not only music. It’s not only art. It’s a community. It’s a sense of having a place to belong.”

---Jared Leto

Sitting in a small local restaurant or pub, chatting with others, sharing some music and food, is pretty much a perfect place for me. Meeting people and being out my own community, or, really anywhere, is a way to connect to my surroundings, revel in the familiar places and faces, and see new ones. That’s why I had such a good time recently at Café Avellino. The owner, Teresa, is a good friend and she always makes sure her guests are comfortable and works hard to make it that local spot, “Where everybody knows your name.”

Besides making the best arancini in the world (and meatballs, and bruschetta and so much else) she regularly hosts local artists, musicians and other creative people to share the work they do. While I was chowing down on Teresa’s food, I got to meet the “Traveling Artist Couple” Monique and Blane from Vignettegraphica.com. They’ve been just about everywhere in the world, and it shows in the artwork they create. Luckily, they are now local and have been sharing their work in the community. 

That’s the thing about community. It doesn’t really have to be sought out. It’s not like the latest video game system that you have to wait five months to get, or the newest cell phone that’s on back order everywhere. The community is all around us; we just have to jump in and be a part of it.  Especially now. The disruption of COVID, and the isolation some of us endured put a real dent in most communities. The dark days of shuttered restaurants and clubs, and empty school buildings are behind us; I’m hoping to never have to go back to being closed off from friends and fun events. While many of us learned new skills like navigating Zoom meetings, making masks from fabric scraps, and hunting down toilet paper, none of that is a substitute for being present in our communities, fully and not virtually. 

Anyone who knows me will tell you how addicted I am to my screens and my technology. They are not wrong; someday my skull is just going to melt from the constant blue light of my laptop and my phone. During the pandemic, when everything was shut down, the tech was my lifeline, and the same was true for many others. Whether you needed to binge-watch something, or FaceTime a friend, virtual was at least a small bit of connection, or, at least distraction. Fortunately, we are able to be out more now. We can hug our family members that we’ve missed, we can see a movie, go to a concert or a museum. It’s not like it was, but honestly, that would be true pandemic or not. Time brings change, and before is before. Now is where we are, and where we need to gather with others. It’s these local places, these faces we’ve not seen in far too long that we need to stay connected to, through food, music, art, or just a chat over a cappuccino. 

An event like the art exhibit at Café Avellino is the perfect example of how to bring people together. Good food? Check. Teresa is my go-to for delicious Italian meals. Good company? Check. While Café Avellino might seem small in size, it is a huge part of a new community along Humphrey Street in Swampscott. Shops, restaurants, and specialty markets have people flocking there. On any given night the sidewalk tables are filled with people chatting, having a coffee, and getting know each other. Good art? Check that too. The works by Monique and Blane have stories behind each image. They represent experiences and small vignettes of their travels, and they love to share them. Having an artist talk about their work, how it came about and what sparked a particular piece makes art come to life in a way that doesn’t happen over Zoom, or on a website. That’s why it’s so vital to recognize those in our communities that are working to showcase creativity and strengthen connections. 

The wicked bad storm we just had? That took out power to many homes, it kept kids home from school, and some businesses had to close for a day or so. Definitely not as bad as the pandemic closings, but once the skies had cleared, the tables and umbrellas were back out in front of the cafes because a community was created by people like Teresa, Monique, Blane and so many others. Winter is coming, and that will likely mean no sidewalk dining for a while, but if we all keep being safe, keep looking out for each other, the community stays strong. What better way to head into winter?