If you are a FACEBOOK user you may be aware of a ‘feature” that is available called memories. If you have posted something previously on that day from another year it is available as a “memory” of that time and you can re-share if you like. The picture above was from 4 years ago and it has been that long since I left my previous career. Time flies….

I think for the longest time (brutally honest here) I found it very hard. You definitely go through different phases and when I looked at this photo it didn’t trigger previous emotions. No anger, or sadness or regret. Nothing. I guess that’s a good thing.

And by the way only two people in the photo above are still there.

I am actually getting very used to doing “nothing.” Some of this has been forced on me due to my recent shoulder surgery. I am pleased to report that my range of motion is improving and I can now do some of the little things with my right arm that I couldn’t do in the past. I was putting away some cups on a higher shelf and I looked over and I was lifting them with my right hand. Still a long way to go.

Back to the nothing part. I know that when I stopped working I did have a lot of plans. You know the typical. Climb Mt Everest, live in Paris, backpack across Europe - ha!

I would have settled with keeping active and playing a lot of tennis. Unfortunately, the body has not been agreeing with me.

I have been considering taking some courses and I do look seriously, but most of them are online and I really don’t want to do that. I often look at culinary courses at George Brown, but I think I’m a bit terrifed and worried that it would be way over my head. So…I retreat.

It’s been awhile since I’ve sat down and written anything. I usually think about something that I might find interesting but eventually something sets in and nothing actually happens.

Its been six months since I’ve hit a tennis ball which may be the longest since I was a young adult. I told a friend the other day that I’m getting a bit too used to it. Even though the shoulder is improving there still is so much stiffness and challenges. The idea of not playing again does pop up more often than it should.

Meanwhile things are heating up at the old tennis club. Lots of people up in arms over various things. Enough said.

Just seems that the whole world is going mad everywhere.

For many tennis players there is something called the “Dark Side” aka Pickleball. I have been watching from the sideline for the last few years. Obviously, I was involved in my time at Wilson as we did sell paddles. In the last few years while working at the local tennis shop, I’ve noticed the increase in interest in pickleball and when people do ask me about it, I always ask them “where do you play”? The growth is impressive and you can’t help but notice it. My sense is there is a few different demographics here. Many of the people are either former tennis player who can’t play anymore or still play but want to try the game. And some of them are new to racket sports.

Generally the game seems easier for people to start and have fun vs. tennis. And it does seem very social which is great. Now, I’m not one of those tennis people who is against pickleball. I think it’s great that people are doing something and are active. I don’t agree that tennis courts should be converted or shared unless the courts are empty and not used. The answer is for dedicated pickleball courts to be built.

Why am I writing about pickleball? I have been looking into “learn to play” programs because with my bum shoulder I am thinking that I may be able to play pickleball before tennis. I have not played as of yet, so I guess I would be a beginner but with my tennis background, I should be able to figure things out. The main holdup will be tactics, rules and what the hell is going on?

One issue with the sport is that the number of facilities has not kept up with the growth in the sport. When I ask people where do you play the answer is generally all over. There is not a lot of “clubs” as of yet. I am considering looking into Mayfair Lakeshore but I do need to see if I can play without hurting myself before actually joining another club. I’ll keep you posted.

Prior to having shoulder surgery I was playing every Monday evening with a group of guys that have become friends. When the club shut down due to Covid we tried a few times to keep it going and the image above is our attempt on Zoom. Seems so long ago.

I still see a significant number of people wearing masks and I find myself wanting to ask them “why”? I never do of course.

I listened to a podcast the other day called WHY WE STILL NEED TO TALK ABOUT AMERICA’S COVID FAILURES. You can find it on a podcast called Honesty with Bari Weiss. It was very interesting as it provided a different view on how countries handled the pandemic. I guess to summarize the argument put forward is that most of the advice given was wrong - from masking to the six foot rule.

Much of the podcast investigates the healthcare system and what lessons have we learned.

Now - to be clear I still adhere to the idea that masking and some of the rules put into place probably saved lives.I know governments were flying by the seats of their pants with this and science did the best they can - especially with vaccines.

Anyways I found it an interesting point of view. And I’m not an anti-vaxxer.

One of my greatest pleasures these days is spending time with Miss Ellie (see above). She follows me around all the time and wants to be with you no matter how your day is going. I consider myself very lucky.

And to make things even better, I managed to get two nights out with my daughter. One of the nights we caught the new Bob Marley movie - One Love. We have been to Jamaica a number of times and on one visit, I did a tour from the resort to Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish. Always a fan so the announcement of the movie was something I was looking forward to.

Anyhow….good movie but you really had to pay attention as the dialect was very challenging. If the actors said 10 words, I often only picked up 50% of them.

As you can see from above….it can be challenging.

I have the television on at this moment with the tennis from Barcelona in the background. I was lucky to attend the event a few years back while in Spain for meetings. I tagged on a few days at the end of meeting to go to the event and I watched Canadian Daniel Nestor play.