OFF KILTER The pickleball phenomenon

I’m certain many of you are waiting with bate d breath (as an aside, I’ve never in all my years met anyone who had bated breath – or even bad breath!) to get some understanding about the pickleball phenomenon. Likewise, the Blockchain phenomenon, which underpins the cryptocurrency movement.

Let’s start with pickleball. Some guys on Bainbridge Island who were long-time tennis and golf players began to feel the slings and arrows of creeping age. In fact, the game was invented by them for their children.

If you’ve never seen the game played – just go to YouTube and type in pickleball – you’ll see many examples of the game. I myself have given up tennis for pickleball. The game is played on a court approximately half the size of a tennis court – so it is much easier on the back and knees, especially great for us older players.

Where we find hope

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”

–Bishop D. Tutu

BY MICHAEL GOLD self-described “gadfly” & east coast transplant, serial entrepreneur offering east/west coast perspectives

The other thing one notices is that you see a great many more women playing the game than one typically sees at the local tennis club. There are a few rules in pickleball that are different than just about any other sport – especially one that has a high percentage of men players. First among them is “no swearing.” You almost never hear a four-letter swear when someone misses a shot. You will hear “nuts” or “darn” or “my bad.” That’s about the worst of it.

Also, you see a great many more “self-calls” about misses (say a ball that is “long” or “wide”) where the doubles team that missed the shot will call the “miss” by themselves. A great more “honesty” than you will ever hear or see on the golf course or just about any contact sport. Another famous saying in pickleball is “there are no sorrys in pickleball.” You never apologize to your partner for a bad shot. Just play on. So civilized!

This got me thinking about another “game” we played on the streets of New York – where I grew up. That is the game called: “Johnny rides a pony” (also sometimes called “buck buck”). This is a game where two teams of youngish boys take turns lining up against a fence or wall. The “anchor” leans against the wall and the rest of the team lines up in a straight line – bending over – so each boy grabs onto the back/waist of the next one.

The other team takes a running start and puts his hands on the back of the first boy at the back of the line – and jumps as far towards the anchor as possible. The boy in the air attempts to land with his knees in the back of whoever he lands on – in an attempt to cause that boy

Hope (n)

1a: desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment also: expectation of fulfillment or success

1b: someone or something on which expectations are centered

1c: something desired

I t is spring. It is the time of new possibilities, the time of promise, the time to put in hard work with the hope that it will manifest as expected. Spring is a time of hope …

MOMENT’S NOTICE

Psychologists say that hope is one of the most difficult human tendencies to explain and, in many cases, to preserve. Hope requires complex cognitive operations that incorporate, rather than dismiss, emotions, while still requiring a leap of faith to follow through.

As the days get longer and the sun breaks through the clouds, if feels like we are seeing signs of wonderful things to come every day – the hazy rainbow of a sun dog in a bright afternoon sky, the pink and white buds on the trees (even though they make me sneeze), and even the bunnies bounding around the yard, munching on the dandelions that I will never get around to pulling.

The tides calm a little this time of year, as well, and we can walk on a chilly but sunny beach, watching our dog frolic in pure bliss.

Even breakfast – that big Easter brunch-y breakfast with something sweet and savory on the plate is like a revelation, but I am also just as happy with a bowl of oatmeal or cereal or even a piece of toast with coffee. Any breakfast is a good thing.

On my run yesterday, a favorite song came on that I have not heard in a while, and one lyric particularly resonated. I hit the back arrow to hear it again (even I have to admit that modern music technology did at least improve on the old rewind button).

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BY MARIA MONTALVO mmomentsnotice@gmail com

Feelings of hope are often challenged, but they strongly influence our actions. Hope is most important when we make the decision to move toward a future that even our best efforts cannot guarantee. For me, hope is preserved through a moment’s notice, seeing the small joys of the day or noting a passing smile.

Ask our federal representatives to continue to support Ukraine

As we watch the people of Ukraine fight for their freedom, our commitment to human rights and democracy must be unwavering.

Appeasing Putin after his invasion and occupation of Crimea by allowing Russia to continue as a legitimate player on the world stage has led us to an interconnected world unable to fully confront actions from Putin that are more in line with his KGB upbringing. This was precisely the danger in not confronting the undemocratic and illegal tendencies of a world power.

Now we see a war being waged with the same ideology, rhetoric, land grabs, and war crimes as in WWII and we can know one thing for sure: Putin will not stop; he must be stopped. He is already

But then I watch the news or hear a piece about war or cruelty or how we are treating each other even here at home, in a country we tout to be the pinnacle of progress and opportunity. Those delicate moments of joy can be darkened so quickly.

My hope then comes from the belief that we will not ignore the violence, and that we will stand up to protect democracy here. Think about it. Even in the see MONTALVO page 5 u

calling out Finland and Sweden.

The U.S. has been strong in its support for Ukraine, and a leader in an energy embargo and port ban. But this help could be stronger and faster, and federal funding to support Ukraine has been exhausted. We can all stand with Ukraine now by calling our representatives and asking them to fully fund the protection of freedom, human rights, and democracy worldwide by arming Ukraine and stopping Putin.

Please call our representatives and ask them to support funding to arm Ukraine, direct sanctions on war criminals, and full removal of Russian banks from the SWIFT system.

Senator Cantwell 425-303-0114

Senator Murray 425-259-7152

Congressman Larsen 425-252-3188

Kristina Melnichenko Mukilteo