A magical time today
 

Yes, another trip to the pool hall. Flame away if you wish...hopefully you'll just ignore.
After a year away from the table due to covid shutdowns, I was becoming disheartened.

The previous trips it was like I'd never held a cue before. But today, it was different.

Near the end of hours of playing, I finally caught a gear! Started out my usual terrible...felt like I couldn't make a ball. Later, a group of teens came in..I groaned when they picked a table near ours...noisy as hell they were, hadn't a clue how to play. Maybe it was because I made an effort to just tune out their noise..their shouts and laughter..they not having a clue about pool hall behavior...but they were just kids having fun. Maybe I should thank them for their annoying ways. Tuning them out, i began really concentrating on my shooting. And something clicked...my stoke became straighter, the object balls started falling. I could visualize the cueball path after the shot, adjust force and english to put Mr. Cueball right where I wanted him...it really was a magical period of time. I was having a ball! Poor Cindy, sitting in her chair waiting for me to miss: "Okay, who the hell are you and what did you do with my husband?" LOL!

It saddened me when long time friend Marty showed..he and Cindy wanting to go grab a bite. Came darned close to suggesting they go without me...I wanted to stay and keep shooting. There's no joy like "being in the zone" when on a pool table. When that's happening, a train could pass through the hall..and all you'd pay attention to is the green area of the table. I've felt that too few times in my life...I want to feel it again!

There's nothin' better than being in the zone after all the hours of practice. I'm glad you had a great day, Paul.

Nothing but good things come from a retired man enjoying a passion of any hobby. I am sure all the golfers feel that when they are hitting the ball right and have a good score.

I certainly feel it on a lap around the track when I nail all the apexes and braking points. I am still slug slow in my ancient 85 911 compared to all the modern computer controlled Porsches with more than double the HP and more gizmos and computers than I can name.

It is a instant reality wake up call when I miss a turn realize how far from a professional race driver I really am. Still fun however.

I could never bash the time spent in a pool hall. It wasn't where we met, but was the place of the spark.

It's like golf, just find the zone, then it all comes back, and you begin to put the ball in the hole. I wasn't ever good at pool, but good enough to beat buddies that played a lot.

She has a ways to go before we play golf together.