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50 50 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | APRIL 2021 | | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | APRIL 2021 | The poet longed to be in England "now that April's there." We, on the other hand, can simply revel in being in Sun Lakes as spring blooms in full. Pickleball is surging with new courts added to the north side complex, allowing more and more wholesome exercise. As we bid farewell to Ol' Man Winter, one of our new and enthusiastic players, Marsha Rudak, sends this prose poem tribute to our afternoon players: "Picture 12 ladies and gents in the midday sun playing pickleball. Ah, Banning in winter! Afternoons are gentler games, less competitive, supporting players of all skill levels. The 'Grand Dames' were patiently helping and supporting newer players when… Enters Ziggy! This energetic, super nice guy with his 'Gilligan' hat pulled down over his eyes joins the game and takes it to a whole new level of craziness and joy. Ziggy yells 'mine' for every ball no matter whose court it lands in and all you can do is laugh and happily keep out of his way. He twirls and dives for every rally. He runs rings around you. We all just giggled and experienced the most fun and glee that this game has to offer." (Editor's note: "Ziggy" is Zdenko Mihoc and he puts the energizer bunny to shame!) Thanks, Marsha, for a sweet and vivid "picture." Marsha's contribution doesn't just illustrate the pleasure of afternoon pickleball here in Sun Lakes. She touches on some of the underlying reasons the game has taken off like wildfire around the globe. The support provided by fellow players is essential to the social benefits of sports in general but pickleball, with its emphasis on doubles, produces strong bonds with partners. Partners communicate. They encourage. They offer tips. Sometimes they take the lead, sometimes they are happy to follow. Even for random, ad hoc teams the camaraderie of one or a few games together can lead to lasting friendships. We have even seen a couple of marriages ensue from first-meetings on our courts. Pickleball's mental benefits are underrated. Sports Psychologist Kent Lindeman extols the value of pickleball in helping us focus. Focus on the arc of the ball, its spin, its direction and speed. Just being in a game gets our mind tracking this perforated orb in many ways. All this helps our visual acuity and exercises our brains as well as our bodies. If you don't know the game, come out and join us. You may even encounter Ziggy! See you on the courts. Pickleball Club