Hello Dear Friends,
My vision for Joy Crazy® continues to grow—as you can see, I’ve renamed the newsletter: The Joy Crazy Life.
My goal is simple: to share tools and stories that help us connect to joyful experiences.
That means you’ll start to see more than pickleball tips. Together, we’ll explore little sparks of joy, new things to learn, and ways to stay connected as a community.
In this week's newsletter, you'll notice new section headings tied to my new tagline: Joy Crazy®—Shine, Learn, Connect.
I hope in each edition you find "gems of joy," as my good friend and author, Jan Janke likes to say.
Joyfully yours,
Shannon 🌼
Register for Joy Crazy Pickleball
Intro to Pickleball and Daisy Doubles (2.0 & 3.0) classes available now!
SHINE
☀️
Create small, daily moments of joy to brighten your day and help you become your own joy advocate.
Come play pickleball with my hubby Dave and me at the Southwest Community Center Halloween Costume Party on Wednesday, October 29 from 7:00-9:00 PM (see details below). Pictured above are pickleball players from the 2024 event - so cute! This year, one of the five courts will be dark (due to an overhead lighting issue in a corner of the gym), so that court will feature an LED “Light-Up Pickleball” and glowing net set (see photo inset)—what a fun way to turn lemons into lemonade!
Get your "Shine" on at the SWCC Halloween Costume Party!
Looking for a lighthearted evening of pickleball and laughter?
Grab your paddle, wear a fun costume (or just your favorite court gear), and come play pickleball at the Southwest Community Center Halloween Costume Party on Wednesday, October 29, from 7:00–9:00 PM.
The drop-in open play is for all levels—so whether you’re new or seasoned, there’s a spot for you. (On the right side of the photo above, you can see the paddle holder they use to group players by level.) Cost is $6 for adults and $5 for seniors (60+). According to Jeff Frost, our host for the evening, no pre-registration is required.
This facility has a large wooden gym floor—similar to Friendly House—with space for five pickleball courts. It also has a large, free parking lot accessible from SW 45th Avenue. If you’d like to arrive early to help set up the gym, setup begins at 6:30 PM.
If you’ve been thinking about exploring another Metro Portland pickleball court—or simply want a midweek joy boost—this is a great opportunity to get your “shine” on. Dave and I would love to see some familiar Friendly House faces there! 🎃
📍Here's the address:
Southwest Community Center
6820 SW 45th Avenue
Portland, OR 97219
"One of the most obvious facts about grown ups to a child is that they have forgotten what it is like to be a child."
—Randall Jarrell
LEARN
📚
Exploring new places, people, and perspectives—on and off the court—because every day offers a chance to learn something new.
Gabriel Park in southwest Portland has pickleball courts in a lovely tree-lined location, with a parking lot, portable restrooms, dog park, tennis courts, and skatepark nearby. Be sure to bring a waterbottle (photo inset) and maybe a folding chair, as seating is limited. I understand evening play is very crowded in the summer. For more details and to sign up to play, visit PlayTimeScheduler.com
Discovering New Courts—and Familiar Faces—at Gabriel Park
In mid-September, I visited the Gabriel Park outdoor pickleball courts in Portland, Oregon—located in the same park as the Southwest Community Center, where the Halloween Costume Party will be held—and enjoyed a few early morning games. The players were wonderfully welcoming and use a simple, shared rotation system: when a game finishes, two players come off the court and two new players go on.
While there, I met the delightful Teressa Hammon (see left photo inset), who serves as a volunteer organizer and court ambassador. The courts have permanent nets, and when Teressa is there, she brings a bag of pickleballs for everyone to use (see the hanging net below).
Organized games take place throughout the summer—most mornings starting around 7:30 a.m., with additional day and evening sessions. Now that fall is here, start times are later, but they are still playing outside when the courts are dry. Full details can be found on the PlayTimeScheduler website or app (look for a "lime green" circle on PlayTimeScheduler).
One of my favorite parts of pickleball is how much we can learn simply by showing up somewhere new. Every court has its own rhythm, every group its own personality—and every game offers a lesson in connection, patience, or play.
I had a fun game with Rusty (left), John (middle), and Heather (right) in the photo inset, above right. Heather reminded me that she was one of my former Portland Community College Community Ed pickleball students—and she thanked me for those early lessons. How sweet! She shared that her job has allowed her to play pickleball all over the country and even internationally.
As a teacher, nothing makes me happier than hearing how well a student is doing—and as a player, I’m reminded that we’re all students, learning something new each time we play. 🌟
📍Here's the address:
Gabriel Park Outdoor Pickleball Courts
4500 SW Nevada St
Portland, OR 97219
Psst...
I’m about to launch Joy Crazy Connect, an online space where you can share your wins, find encouragement, and connect with others. I will host regular Zoom events and community members will be able to:
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Find a "fourth" for pickleball where you live
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Recommend a new restaurant or coffee spot
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Share pickleball travel tips or getaway ideas
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Invite others to an event you’d rather not attend alone
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Ask for or offer advice on hobbies, health, or everyday life hacks
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Share a cartoon or GIF that made you smile
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Get tips on buying a new pickleball paddle or court shoes
So far, three wonderful folks have volunteered to be “beta” testers. If you’d like to help me try out the community before it officially launches, just hit reply and say: “I’m in!” 🙏
CONNECT
🤝
Building friendships and community through kindness, encouragement, and shared experiences.
A maple tree near my friend’s home in Michigan, showing off its rich red and rust-colored fall leaves.
The peaceful view from my friend’s home in Washington—autumn reflections on the calm lake.
Don’t Forget Your Daily Dose of Vitamin “C”
We all need a little “vitamin C” for connection—that essential boost we get from staying in touch with people who bring warmth and joy into our lives.
One of the easiest ways to keep up with friends or family, especially those who live far away, is to start a simple group text or WhatsApp chat. (We even have one just for our neighborhood!)
I have a small three-person text group with two girlfriends, and we like to send quick well-wishes for birthdays or holidays. This fall, we decided to add something new: sharing fall photos from our corners of the country . Each of us posted a picture (see their stunning photos above), and before long we were “oo-ing” and “aw-ing” over each other’s colorful leaves and tranquil scenes.
We only text about once a month, and our messages are short, but it’s just enough to keep the connection strong. Inspired by that, I decided to try the same thing with my family—asking everyone to text a fall photo from their neck of the woods -- including a pumpkin patch! A quick text—even just a photo—is simple, easy, and reminds us how close we can feel even when miles apart.
Maybe this week, you can reach out to someone you haven’t chatted with in a while—just to say hello or share something that made you smile. A small act of connection might be the best kind of “vitamin C” you’ll take all season. 🍁
Thank you for spending a little time with me in the Joy Crazy Life!
Whether you’re finding small moments of joy, discovering something new, or staying connected with friends and family, remember to pause, breathe, and savor the little things that make life brighter. ☺️
With warmth and gratitude,
Shannon 🌼
Chief Daisy
Joy Crazy®
To receive The Joy Crazy Life Newsletter in your inbox, click here.
To contact Shannon Diffenderffer, M.Ed., send an email to shannon[@]joycrazy.com
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