FACING THE UNKNOWNS THAT ACCOMPANY AGING REQUIRES COURAGE

GROWING OLD REQUIRES ONE PRIMARY CORE VIRTUE . . . COURAGE

Webster: "Courage involves deliberate choice in the face of painful or fearful circumstances for the sake of a worthy goal".

GROWING OLD PICKLEBALL PLAYERS REQUIRE MULTIPLE CORE VIRTUES, most importantly . . . COURAGE AND PATIENCE.

Courage to endue the degrading composition of human bone and declining muscle tissue.  Patience to allow a slower healing process fueled by an aging metabolism, and threatened by the sands of time trickling thru the hour glass of life.  

Pickleball was the elixir for aging athletes.  But it also transformed many of its long time faithful followers into addicts.

Now that we  are addicted, our bodies continue to falter, as we face the trials and tribulations  of life's  courts.  But a lifetime of wisdom will not allow us to quit the pursuit of that which we love the most. . . pickleball. 

Do what you dare oh Doctors of Medicine to keep my flailing body in motion, joyfully  bouncing a whistling  sphere,  watching its return in repetitive harmony, and listening to the popping sound of opposing paddles. 

When oh when does the "Book of Life" say I must relinquish  my graphite beater of the plastic ball?

The answer lies in the final chapter entitled, "DEATH," when the Mythical Boatman on the River Stix, ferries my lifeless body to the Underworld and pry's my paddle from my cold dead hands . . .  then and only then will it ever end!!