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42 | LIFE IN SOLERA | MARCH 2025 | So, it's MARCH MADNESS time! Time to enjoy the basketball playoffs. However, if you need a break from all that or if you just don't really care about basketball, come on out and play some pickleball. We are a very friendly group and promise to help you learn the skills and rules needed to play the game. Before you come out, watch a couple YouTube videos, which can be very helpful. Please buy some court shoes. Trail shoes, or running shoes will not work well and may lead to injury. We play Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Some of our more dedicated players will show up as early as 7:30 am. We usually play until 10 am or so. Therefore, if 7:30 am is too early for you, we will still be there until 10 am so come when you're ready. One of our new members is Rick Wood and he told me how he came to be a pickleball player. Before retiring, Rick co-owned a business called Laboratory Service and Consulting, an independent service provider specializing in the repair and maintenance of laboratory instruments. With expertise in the fields of gas chromatography, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry as well as many other laboratory instruments and techniques. The company provided maintenance and consulting services to environmental laboratories, food and drug laboratories, refineries, and forensic laboratories. Rick just retired at the end of 2024. Originally from Northern California, Rick and his wife Deb have lived in Solera since 2015. Previously they were living in Truman Hills across the freeway. Rick's good friend, Dave James, suggested that he would enjoy pickleball, so after he retired he decided to give it a try. He's been playing now about three-and-a-half weeks. Rick tries to play at least twice a week and sometimes more, but still has a lot to learn. He is still trying to figure out " the kitchen," so until he does he thinks he'll just stay out of it. So far for him it's been a lot of fun! He has been making lots of new friends and getting a good workout. He would definitely recommend pickleball to anyone who has thought about playing. I might add that Rick says he has very little prior experience in tennis or other court sports. Rick plays golf and he and his wife Deb belong to the Solera Sippers. So once again, if you think you're interested, come join us. If you have any questions you can contact Sandy Stearn at (717) 542-0481 or myself George Dietz at (614) 940-9506. ~ Gaby DeWitt PICKLEBALL PADDLERS Rick Wood, a recent pickleball convert Pickleball regulars