Gary Pelphrey
As I sit here, benched by surgery and watching the Arizona sun turn the courts into a frying pan, I can’t help but hear Joni Mitchell singing in my head, “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.”
Right now, my pickleball paddle is gathering dust, and when I am in the kitchen, I’m likely doing the dishes. And yet, I miss it—a lot.
Retirement has blessed me with many joys—travel, books, long walks (when I can take them), birdwatching, family dinners, and spontaneous naps. But every now and then, it’s good to take stock. So, why pickleball? Why do I play?
Well, some reasons are pretty obvious. I’ve always loved racquet sports—tennis, racquetball, ping pong. Pickleball was the natural next obsession. It’s fantastic exercise (way more fun than jogging), and it’s how we’ve met some of our best friends here in SaddleBrooke. It’s like a fitness class and happy hour rolled into one—minus the cocktails (well, sometimes after).
But it goes deeper. The world can feel heavy these days with politics, division, stress… and then there’s pickleball. No labels, no agendas—just paddles and laughter. On the court, we’re all just people trying to move, laugh, compete, and maybe yell, “Nice shot!” even when we secretly wish it wasn’t.
Yes, it’s hard to master (and anyone who says it’s easy is definitely not keeping score). But the challenge is part of the joy. Every drop shot I actually make feels like a personal triumph. Some days I’m there to compete, other days it’s just about having a few laughs with my wife and friends, and both days are equally rewarding.
SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association is more than a club. It’s a community—a quirky, talented, welcoming, wonderful group that helps to make this retirement chapter feel full and vibrant.
So, why do I play pickleball? Because it keeps me moving, connects me with incredible people, and helps to fill my days with purpose and fun.
And when I’m healed up and back on the court, watch out. I’ll be the one grinning, sweating, and sometimes whiffing my return, but loving every minute.
See you out there!