Sunday, June 6, 2021 (Court Day #382)

I dropped off my daughter at work a few minutes after 9 a.m. It was misting, requiring periodic windshield wipers. As I drove on the freeway to Brommer Park, it got a little heavier—maybe enough to consider actual rain—then stopped. I figured there’d be at least a few diehards out playing, but when I arrived, there were only two cars in the lot and . . . yep, as I looped around, no one on the courts, which were a bit wet. Bummer. I simply pulled around without stopping and headed home.

I worked on some things at home then around 11, figured I’d give Derby Park—closer to my house—a shot. As I pulled onto the street, I saw Tom S. leaving. We greeted each other with a smile then I asked if there were still players. He said there were. I arrived inside the gate at 11:30. As I drove by I saw Alan C. and Robin L. leaving.

There were 14 players, surprisingly, I knew only two of them. There was a bunch of younger women—20s and 30s, it seemed. An unusually large number were heavier-set—maybe a weight loss group? Pickleball is good, low-impact, fun exercise. They appeared to be all newish players with high balls and lots of errant shots.

The two players on the courts that I recognized were Maria, who would often play in Scotts valley, and Tom M. Maria was partnered with a short woman named Sherry and Tom with an Asian man named Larry. As I watched their game in the hopes of jumping in after, it became apparent that Larry and Sherry were playing the best. I’d consider them all 3.0 level players.

On the near court: Larry, Tom M., Sheri, and Maria.

When their game ended, I asked if I could play. Maria kindly offered me her spot. I joined with Sherry to take on Larry and Tom M. We started slow but then ran away to win 11-6. Sherry is a lefty’s I am playing right now.

Sherry asked if I’m actually a natural righty. I told her, yes. Tom said, “You would consider yourself ambidextrous by now.” Even with a six month layoff for COVID, I’m approaching two years of playing lefty.

Tom M. sat out and I played with Maria against Sherry and Larry. Maria wasn’t playing as well as I’d seen her play in the past. We lost that one.

Tom was ready to go and it was his net. It was kind of him to just watch and let us play that one more game.

I got in about an hour. I’ll always take what I can get!

Number of days on a court: 382
Number of total hours: 1,084

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