...I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail...of all Excuses this is most forbid: "I did the Thing because Others did"...loyalty to petrified opinion never broke a chain or freed a human soul in this world...
I was just reminiscing about you this very morning, while I was sitting on the toilet, thinking of a piece I wrote in your tribute called “Butternut Squash.” It’s about a man who parks his car in his own driveway facing out. Always ready to escape.😁😁🤠
MAJOR LOL! You do have a reputation for argumentative and questionable calls to go along with the reputation for great play. And I haven’t even been on the court for 6 months!
I remember a conversation I had 20 years ago with a friend who taught me to play disc golf. It was a pleasant conversation about something unrelated when he suddenly dowsed me by saying “I noticed you like to argue about everything.” I was shocked. That didn’t fit my self-image at all. I’ve realized at least two things since he hurt me with that comment:
1. my good friend was right
2. I need to remember that much of life is for fun. I’m never even going to excel at pickleball, let alone make a living at it. Focus on having fun. I say, “I don’t care about other people’s mistakes because I have enough of my own to worry about.”
Unfortunately, I’ve been told occasionally I argue too much at pickleball too, even though I try to repeat my mantras to curtail it. Maybe I argue too much to try to shorten the list of my own mistakes. Surely that was someone else’s mistake and not mine. Too much of my self-loathing and not enough FUN.
Thanks for sharing and for continuing to navigate life while we have it.
BTW: you’re an amazing person and player regardless of your age.
Thanks a lot, Ted. For the props, but mostly for being the first fellow Pickleball player to read the post and respond. I already had nightmares last night that I would be thrown off the courts and kicked out of the club, of which I’m already, no longer a member. LOL I still expect that having posted it, I will find myself “in another pickle”!!!
Never played pickleball and after reading your piece - never will. Tennis was my game and congratulated myself on a beautiful serve- that never or often never went “in” . And I lost many a game because of it. I once had to play an exhibition game of mixed doubles with a boy I didn’t know and guess what I double faulted the whole match. I tried to bite my tongue so I wouldn’t cry in public but couldn’t get off the court fast enough. Those tears of humiliation flowed and that was that - so much for a gorgeous looking serve ……
The best advice I ever got, from Paul Provenza: Don't be an asshole.
I almost always remember it too late.
Obviously, me too!
...I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail...of all Excuses this is most forbid: "I did the Thing because Others did"...loyalty to petrified opinion never broke a chain or freed a human soul in this world...
Keep on keeping on🙃F
Thank you, my rebel fairie queen🤩🤩🤠
Man, that Rick Reilly seems like one smart, perceptive cat!
Yeah, man, please make sure he sees the post. Tell him “thanks for instigating the piece!”
Beautifully written and much more entertaining than pickle ball
I was just reminiscing about you this very morning, while I was sitting on the toilet, thinking of a piece I wrote in your tribute called “Butternut Squash.” It’s about a man who parks his car in his own driveway facing out. Always ready to escape.😁😁🤠
Do me a favor and LIKE the post.🤠
MAJOR LOL! You do have a reputation for argumentative and questionable calls to go along with the reputation for great play. And I haven’t even been on the court for 6 months!
I remember a conversation I had 20 years ago with a friend who taught me to play disc golf. It was a pleasant conversation about something unrelated when he suddenly dowsed me by saying “I noticed you like to argue about everything.” I was shocked. That didn’t fit my self-image at all. I’ve realized at least two things since he hurt me with that comment:
1. my good friend was right
2. I need to remember that much of life is for fun. I’m never even going to excel at pickleball, let alone make a living at it. Focus on having fun. I say, “I don’t care about other people’s mistakes because I have enough of my own to worry about.”
Unfortunately, I’ve been told occasionally I argue too much at pickleball too, even though I try to repeat my mantras to curtail it. Maybe I argue too much to try to shorten the list of my own mistakes. Surely that was someone else’s mistake and not mine. Too much of my self-loathing and not enough FUN.
Thanks for sharing and for continuing to navigate life while we have it.
BTW: you’re an amazing person and player regardless of your age.
Thanks a lot, Ted. For the props, but mostly for being the first fellow Pickleball player to read the post and respond. I already had nightmares last night that I would be thrown off the courts and kicked out of the club, of which I’m already, no longer a member. LOL I still expect that having posted it, I will find myself “in another pickle”!!!
Nah, you have earned the right to be there.
Never played pickleball and after reading your piece - never will. Tennis was my game and congratulated myself on a beautiful serve- that never or often never went “in” . And I lost many a game because of it. I once had to play an exhibition game of mixed doubles with a boy I didn’t know and guess what I double faulted the whole match. I tried to bite my tongue so I wouldn’t cry in public but couldn’t get off the court fast enough. Those tears of humiliation flowed and that was that - so much for a gorgeous looking serve ……
You know, I would’ve loved to see that gorgeous looking serve!😁🤠🤩
As gorgeous as the person serving ❤️
Nice piece, the pickle ball life!
Thanks! Nice to have you back! Although you’ve lost the crown of number one fan! You have a lot of catching up to do. Ha ha.🤠
Wonderful story. Really appreciate Trules gift for exciting narrative.
Thanks, as always, Ed, for reading my “stacks” and for your enthusiastic comments🤠🤠
Thanks, as always, David, for both reading and commenting on my posts. In the case of your own family, I guess the deer won the game!!!!!