Born and raised in New England, I spent many years living in Massachusetts and Cape Cod. Once my two boys reached middle school, I earned my real estate broker’s license and became a jack-of-all-trades at the real estate firm my first husband and I owned. Life took an unexpected turn when I lost my husband suddenly, leading me to relocate to California in 2000.
In California, I dove into the startup world, working for a dot-com company—definitely a new and very “California” experience for me. That adventure ended with my first-ever layoff, but I quickly pivoted to a role at Krames Publishing as a project coordinator. It was a fascinating position, allowing me to connect with people nationwide who were involved in publishing medical brochures for the general public. After seven years, another downsizing left me jobless again—cue the growing inferiority complex!
Taking time for some soul-searching, I transitioned into a part-time payroll role for an ambulance company, which turned out to be a perfect fit. Who wouldn’t love working just five days every other week? Throughout all these career changes, my constant joy was playing tennis outdoors all over Northern California—I was hooked!
Then in 2014, my present husband, Michael, and I moved to The Villages. Before we even finished unpacking, the Tennis Club’s welcoming committee had already recruited me. I quickly got involved, volunteering for events and serving as the club’s communications director for a few years. Meanwhile, Michael became the court manager—despite not even playing tennis!
Then came along pickleball—the new rage in The Villages. Initially, I resisted, worried it would mess up my tennis game (as if I needed another excuse). I watched, listened, and cautiously dipped my toes into a few open-play sessions. After enduring many embarrassing “Oh, you must be a tennis player” comments, I decided to embrace the sport as part of my exercise routine—because let’s be honest, I’m not a gym person. Plus, the pickleball community turned out to be just as welcoming.
Thanks to Anahid, I was recruited to serve as secretary on the pickleball board. While I don’t know many of the players yet, I’m looking forward to changing that and playing more regularly. I appreciate the board’s support and am excited for a fantastic year of pickleball!
