No Scoreboard

After the run I texted Dave and asked if he wanted to hit at the Bay Club. About a mile from the house. I'm a member. He said yes. Dave's a new friend through pickleball. Last year or so. I like him. He's strong in his field, a good guy on the courts, and I'm enjoying getting to know him a little better. We didn't play games. We drilled for two, maybe two and a half hours. Dinks. Third shots. Resets. The boring stuff that makes the fun stuff work. In between, we talked. Nothing heavy. Who we are, how we got here, the usual getting-to-know-you that somehow works better when you're also trying not to miss a ball. I'm not a bad sport. I am competitive. Growing up, and in most sports, a pickup game or a practice didn't quite scratch it unless there was a score. Win or lose a good contest. That was the focus. The scoreboard told you if the night counted. I'm older now. Tonight there was no scoreboard. And I'm learning a win can still happen in the connection with the other person. It was a good time. Good exercise. Fun company. Dave and I left tired and a little clearer on each other than when we walked in. That's enough for a Saturday.