There were some frustrating moments . She said a private pickleball club in Maine denied her request to play because she ’ s not a member . Her phone battery died twice , so without GPS she took the long route to some destinations . She got pulled over for speeding while driving in heavy rain in Wyoming .
“ I was super-happy when he let me off with a warning . I ’ m sure it looked like I was living out of my car ,” she said with a laugh .
There were surprising moments . She met a couple in their 50s in Pineville , West Virginia ( population : 619 ), who had never heard of pickleball . The husband agreed to a lesson with Lorraine .
The guy loved it . “ His enthusiasm was contagious , and I could see that he couldn ’ t wait to play again .” Lorraine gave the man and his wife a couple of paddles and pickleballs . “ Maybe I can plant a seed in this small town and hopefully pickleball can grow there ,” she says .
There were emotional moments too . She reconnected with a sister in Nebraska from whom she was estranged for 20 years . “ That made my heart happy ,” she says . For the first time she visited her brother and sister-inlaw ’ s home in Pennsylvania , and Mount Rushmore in South Dakota .
“ I wanted to spread the love of pickleball in places that might not have heard of or played pickleball before ,” she adds . “ My trip was more of a whirlwind , and I know I didn ’ t see the best parts of many of the states , but I had a wonderful trip and met so many great people along the way .”
Lorraine didn ’ t want to delay her pickleball dream any longer because she has some eye problems and isn ’ t sure how long she can play at her current level .
Her eyesight may be diminishing , but her determination is not . “ If someone says something can ’ t
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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024 | MAGAZINE 37