Warren, Michigan – We canceled a family trip to Mexico so that we could spend Christmas in Detroit. It seems like it would be an unpopular move, but the twin-agers were agreeable. In addition to seeing the grandparents, they looked forward to hanging out with their cousins, playing lots of ping-pong, and relishing some downtime after a busy first semester in high school. Also, they wanted to play pickleball.
The grandparents introduced us to pickleball, and we have always played when we visit them in Florida and in Michigan. But of course, Florida is Florida; and Michigan is usually a summertime destination. I was skeptical about playing pickleball on this trip in the depths of winter. Fortunately, I found Bash Pickleball Club, an impressive indoor facility within striking distance of the grandparents’ house.
This place is all about pickleball. There’s no bar, no music, no funky murals, no other games (as at PKL Boston, where we sometimes play at home). That stuff is fun, but extraneous, at least for our needs. And apparently for others too, as Bash Pickleball Club was completely full every time we went. And in fact, they are in the midst of expanding and increasing the number of courts.
Sadly, the grandparents do not really play pickleball anymore. Happily, everyone else does! So the twins could play with their uncle and with their cousins. Pickleball is also one of the few activities that we all really enjoy as a family – our immediate family, just the four of us. And the twins enjoy it more and more, as they get better and better.
We ended up playing at Bash Pickleball Club three days in a row. We also played one day at outdoor courts. (It was not short-sleeve weather, contrary to what you see in this photo.)
And if you’re keeping track, no, the parents are no longer undefeated.