From the Picklehood

I had to go to Wilcox Hospital earlier this month for a couple of x-rays.  Check in is required to confirm appointment time.  You can bypass the main check in windows and go straight to Imaging Services located in another area of the hospital.    They have their own check-in and screening procedure.  One of the four ladies who sat behind the check-in window began the process by asking name and birthdate.  Then the fun began.  “You are here for two x-rays.  One for your arm and one for your foot.  Correct?”  Yes.  “Which arm?”  My right.  “Can you tell me when this happened?”  About six weeks ago.  “How did it happen?  Playing pickleball.  That got the others’ attention and they all shot a glance towards me.  “Which foot.”  My left.  “This happened approximately when?”  A month ago.  “How did this happen?”  Playing pickleball.  They all burst out laughing.  One of the ladies was kind enough to say, “we’re not laughing at you.  It’s just we’ve had so many pickleball people come in for x-rays the last couple of months.”  I gave some half-okoled explanation that we seniors still think we’re in our 30’s and 40’s and try to do too much.  They went on to say they have friends who play and have only the best things to say about the game.  I hear that a lot.  

 

A couple of weeks ago I was in Long’s Drugs Lihue and saw Mayor Kawakami.  He had done self check-out and his hands were full of candy.  As he was leaving the store, he paused long enough to say to the lady scanning my items, “______, you look younger every time I see you.”  The comment was kind and genuine.  I was reminded of the handful of times we’ve seen each other somewhere in town.  He always made time to ask how pickleball was going on the island.   Our Mayor shows a genuine interest in the game and continues to be one of our most ardent supporters.

 

Three weeks into December, I have received numerous calls and/or text messages from visiting picklers returning to Kaua’i.  Their messages are always the same.  Wonderful experience.  Friendly players.  Good competition.  Looking forward to playing with you all soon.   

 

This week some of us were sitting around talking between games and one of our senior players, looking out at fellow picklers, said “how lucky we are to be playing this game.”  One player added, “its changed my life.”  We hear that a lot.

 

As December winds down, let’s be thankful for a divinely planned journey under divinely planned conditions with divinely planned supply. Nine years of Kaua’i pickleball history is a good start.  As we enter year ten, look for continued positive growth on Kaua’i and around the state.  The news about the new pickleball/tennis facility in Hanapepe is inspiring.  Seeing so many younger players here on Kaua’i taking up the game is encouraging.  Reading about the success of Kaua’i and Hawaii players in mainland tournaments is heartening.  Pickleball is not-such-a-funny-named-game anymore.

 

As for the above bumper sticker….Stephanie and I affixed these to our cars for our first couple of years on Kaua’i.  We’re thankful enough of you asked.  

 

Jack Hodges

District Pickleball Ambassador 

State of Hawaii

Kaua’i Resident