Thursday, February 15, 2018 (Court Day #126)
I debated going to pickleball tonight, I was a little tired and sore. But the distraction is good. And with everything going on my father-in-law’s dire condition and a pending trip to Southern California, it might be my last chance for a while.
Scotts Valley
At a little after 7 p.m., I pulled into the Skypark parking lot. Fortuitously, there were a couple of spots right outside the courts. It was my first visit there in over a month. It was chilly, low 50s, but I wore a T-shirt and shorts knowing I’d warm up—which I did, but it took a couple of games. The most uncomfortable part was my hands were really cold!
Left to right: Bruce, Janet, Leah, Kris (far), Mark Dettle, Jeanne. Not seen: Bruce’s partner Larry, Leah’s partner/husband Craig. I had plenty of time to take this photo sitting and waiting after putting on my ankle brace.
Like clockwork, I was the odd man out. Three full courts and me on the bench! This must be at least the 4th or 5th time I’ve come and been the only one on the bench waiting! But it was only a few minutes and Bruce kindly offered to step out and let me play. I played with Kris against Larry and Janet. Larry is a challenge to play against. He’s not an advanced player, but he does a good job getting the ball back over to net.
I was hoping to get to play against Bruce and a woman named Jane (I’d seen her once or twice before, but don’t really know her). Bruce is always keeps me on my toes and, from what little I saw, Jane looked like she had very good ball skills.
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one suffering with bad depth perception under the lights. I swung on backhand and completely whiffed on the ball. I was embarrassing, but the others knew what was going on and experienced it themselves later.
After one shot where I hit a handhand slice straight ahead deep to Janet’s backhand and she returned it into the net, Jeanne said, “I need to learn how to do that!” And I need to learn how to do it more reliably! Still, nice to hear.
I didn’t play perfectly, but I played very well. If a group was arguing over beers who was the best player there, I like to think that my name would be brought up and be in the mix. Mark (Maree’s husband) was there, though he wasn’t playing the top of his game tonight.
The last game of the night wrapped up and we left a little after 8:30. It was fun night. Thanks to Mark Dettle for sticking around and closing up as the site coordinator.
Friday Afternoon
Life is full of highs and lows. Today is a low. My father-in-law Ron has been given last rites by a priest my mother-in-law knows and the extraordinary life support is being removed. He’ll pass in next couple of days. All this has yet to sink in. He was always a such a honest, pragmatic, generous man who lived life and loved his family and friends. He’ll be missed beyond measure. The USS Midway will miss him for sure—he volunteered hundreds upon hundreds of hours there as a docent telling firsthand stories to guests of his time serving as a jet pilot on that ship.
I let Eric know we’ll be on for the Livermore tournament. I have no question in my mind that Ron would be happy with that.
Saturday
I got word that my father-in-law Ron passed away in the late morning, just before I was on the road to San Diego from Santa Cruz shortly after 11 a.m.
Ron posing on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. By 1970, he’d performed 500 carrier landings. He spent almost a quarter century in the Navy as an aviator. For a short time, he was assigned to carry the nuclear button briefcase (a.k.a. “The Football”) for President Nixon.
Lt. Commander Ronald W. Foster (ret.) during the summer last year during an outing for burgers with his son-in-law (me) and his grandson Nicholas. He’ll be so missed by his wife of 47 years, Bonnie, his two daughters and family, and many hundreds of friends—from the Navy, his three decades at New York Life, the Oplimist Club, the sheriff senior volunteer patrol, and as a docent at the USS Midway. While not a particularly religious man, and even as a Protestant, he occasionally played chess with the middle-aged pastor of the nearby Catholic parish. The world is worse off without Ron.
Monday
I’m in a car heading north back to Santa Cruz after about a 36-hour stay. Yesterday, we were going through things at the house and also took a trip up to Miramar National Cemetery to decide on Ron’s final resting spot. Bonnie and Kristen thought a marker on the grass will be better than a spot in one of the memorial walls. I agree.
Bonnie is planning to move to NorCal to be closer to her daughters. My sister-in-law mentioned pickleball was available at a retirement community—while she’s not too keen on such a community and wants an apartment/condo somewhere, I might just take her to pickleball sometime anyway. She’s an athletic 73-year-old.
Regardless, rest in peace, Ron. Until we meet again, Big Poppa.
Number of days on a court: 126
Number of total hours: 358.5
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