Quail Creek, tennis and me

Dr. Madelaine Paschal

I love my Robson Quail Creek community! And let me tell you why. Because I never wanted to live in an age-restricted community before, I had a hard time convincing myself that it was the right thing to do. Would I feel ‘older’ immediately, less likely to dine out, too shy to ‘work out’, get ‘hooked’ into joining all kinds of clubs, and on and on? Well, I’ve been here a whole year now, and I am feeling younger, eating out all the time (yes!), working out and don’t even care what I look like (we all seem to pretty much look the same in there) and am participating in several really fun activities! I have found my wonderful neighbors feel the same way and even bother to talk to my husband and me when they see us out and about! It’s amazing!

But one event stole my heart, just last weekend. I was asked to speak to the Quail Creek Ladies’ Tennis group in December. I did that. I loved that. And I loved the ladies I met there. They were all real, like The Velveteen Rabbit (not comparing them to rabbits, just please read that book before you jump to conclusions; you’ll see I’m right!)

Then last week I was asked to perform (I try to sing) for their end-of-the-year banquet. I was hesitant. What if I lose all of them? What if the mics fail? What if I choose the wrong songs? Well, it was probably the most fun I have had in my singing career; no, really!

Not only did they have the ‘just right’ venue (Madera Clubhouse and patio), the ‘just right’ decor, the ‘just right’ menu, but they had each other and they were enjoying every minute of the evening. Even the guys who came to support, encourage, dance and eat with their partners were having fun! It was contagious! They were all ropin’ steers, learning line dances and singing right along to my song set…and smiling! Thanks for the memories, everyone.

All this to say, that I am so dern tickled to be a part of it all! Quail Creek makes me smile, too. And every day, I meet someone new! Even the gate guards are happy, smiling and glad to see me! Yes, even me! I have done the right thing. I am now a Quail Creeker and I’m proud! “Eeee haw,” as they say in Texas (where I’m from). And then I smile again and say to myself, “I loved Texas, but I adore Arizona; it just took me a long time to get here!”