The smell of fresh summer air, while the sun blocks my vision, and yelling across the court, “What’s the score?” will always be what I remember pickleball as. The tradition of playing pickleball, every summer, several times a week, with my closest family friends, will be what I continue to crave in the winter and obsess over in the summer. Small memories like birthdays—with a little get-together at pickleball to celebrate—create a few of the best memories each summer. This summer, I will be having hot, summer days at the pickleball courts, surrounded by the people closest to me.
From playing pickleball for the first time, inspired by TikTok videos, to it becoming almost a daily thought during the summer, pickleball is such a small detail in my life that has so much meaning. It has been a new and exciting activity, a way to get exercise, and a chance to get closer to friends. Finding out about pickleball and making a suggestion to try it out has turned into playing constantly and becoming my favorite hobby. Memories of going somewhere after playing pickleball, whether it’s Frosty Boy or Chick-fil-A, will hold the most meaning in this small activity, as many memories and bonds have been built through simple interactions. These small interactions sometimes are the foundation of my friendships, from giving me a ride somewhere to grabbing lunch at a random restaurant; little details like these have brought my friends closer.
The friends I have made and friendships I have built by playing pickleball will always stick with me, but as time goes on, friendships will change drastically. Although pickleball seems untouchable now, and I could not fathom wanting the activity to change, as the years go on, the people in my life will change. Hopefully, as the people in my life disappear and new people enter, memories can continue to be made from playing pickleball.
From starting a few summers ago, I have learned that pickleball is one of my favorite ways to bond with anyone, from family friends to best friends to casual friends. Whoever it is with, pickleball is something that can rarely get boring, and it is always best when with a big group of people.
Now that summer is coming around the corner, I always wonder if it will be the same as last summer or the summer before that. Pickleball always seems to be a constant in my life, but it’s who I play pickleball with that changes. As new friendships arise, I hope to still keep pickleball involved and grow friendships with small interactions, such as pickleball.
