I was born in the western mountains of North Carolina, in a small town 26 miles from just about anything. My childhood was challenging. My mother struggled with alcoholism, and my father lived with bipolar disorder. Looking back, I often think that had I grown up in a large city, my path might have been very different. Instead, life took me on an unexpected journey.

I became pregnant at 14 and gave birth to my first daughter at 15 while in foster care. I was young, naive, and had dropped out of high school, but motherhood changed everything. I knew I needed an education and wanted to create a different future for myself and my daughter.

One experience from those early years has stayed with me forever. Eight months pregnant, I found myself a runaway, hitchhiking along the side of the road. No one stopped to help until 1 a.m. I was exhausted and eventually taken to the police station. That night, I made a promise to myself: I would never turn my back on someone who needed help. It became a guiding principle in how I have lived my life.

Determined to pursue an education, I asked my older sister to take the SAT for me. She scored so well that I was admitted to the University of Colorado, despite having no formal education beyond the ninth grade. It was the beginning of an entirely new chapter. There, I met my husband, Nils. We graduated, married, and went on to raise four beautiful daughters, who have blessed us with ten wonderful grandchildren.

After college, I entered real estate investing, and Nils and I built a very successful career together. Over the years, we purchased and sold more than 550 homes. We worked hard, raised our girls in Boulder, Colorado, and were fortunate to provide a wonderful life for our family.

Our next chapter began with a vacation to Daytona Beach and an opportunity to purchase my grandmother's old beach house. It had always been a place of peace and quiet in my childhood, and returning there brought back so many memories. Nils and I closed on the house, completely renovated it, and quickly realized that we had found somewhere special. We loved it so much that we decided to make Florida our permanent home.

Today, staying active and being part of the Pictona community are important parts of our lives. We have made wonderful friends, enjoy playing pickleball, and often stay until closing. One of my favorite experiences is playing outdoors under the lights, surrounded by friends who have become such a meaningful part of our lives.

When I look back, my life has been filled with unexpected turns, difficult lessons, second chances, and incredible blessings. From a young mother facing an uncertain future to a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, I have learned that where you begin does not have to determine where you end up.

And these days, one of my greatest joys is simply being on the court, under the lights, with good friends and a paddle in my hand.

Nils Bogetveit

I grew up on a small family farm just outside Bergen, Norway, as one of six siblings. We learned to work at an early age, with plenty of chores around the farm. Our grandmother lived with us, and on weekends and during the summer, our home was often filled with aunts, uncles and cousins. It was a wonderful way to grow up.

After high school, I worked as a firefighter in Bergen, a job I enjoyed very much. I then completed my mandatory military service in the Norwegian Army, stationed at Bardufoss in northern Norway. Winters were cold, with temperatures sometimes reaching 40 degrees below zero. Much of our training took place outdoors, including nights spent in tents. The spectacular Northern Lights were an unforgettable part of the experience.

In the late 1970s, I moved to Boulder, Colorado, where I studied engineering at the University of Colorado. College offered plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, including skiing, hiking and biking. It was also where I met Mary. We married after I graduated, and the rest, as they say, is history.

I began my professional career as a structural engineer with a consulting firm in Denver. In 1992, Mary and I moved back to Boulder and began investing in and renovating properties. It was a busy and sometimes stressful time. We eventually had a real estate company, a mortgage company and a construction company, which allowed us to handle much of the work ourselves.

Mary is extremely motivated, and we both worked hard. As the saying goes, “The harder we worked, the luckier we got.” Looking back, those years of hard work were also a valuable learning experience for our children, who are all doing well today. One of our daughters now lives in Norway on the farm where I grew up. Another is spending a year in Spain, while our other two daughters live in Boulder.

In 2020, we bought our first home in Ormond Beach, Florida, and over the years we have really come to appreciate the area. Mary has always enjoyed tennis and has more recently taken up pickleball, so Pictona has been a perfect fit for her.

I have never been particularly interested in racket sports myself, but I enjoy going to Pictona. What I especially appreciate is seeing people of all ages and backgrounds becoming friends and enjoying time together. The people at Pictona are genuinely friendly, and that sense of community is one of the things we have come to love about living here.

August Calendar - pdf

Remembering Jordan Ferrell —A message from his father, Jerad Ferrell

Jordan wasn't just a player or a coach at Pictona—he became the heart and soul of this community.

From early 2024, we embarked on a mission together: to channel Jordan's boundless energy and love for pickleball into a professional calling. That journey led to an extraordinary achievement. Jordan became an RPPk + DUPR Certified Pickleball Instructor, earning advanced certification through Tyson McGuffin's elite program. At just 20 years old, he stood among the nation's top-tier instructors.

At Pictona, Jordan's presence was magnetic. He infused every drill and match with unmatched enthusiasm. He coached with encouragement and played with fierce intensity, yet always ensured every player felt welcomed and valued. He connected with members of all backgrounds, building genuine friendships and spreading joy wherever he went. His laughter and dedication breathed life into our courts—not just at Pictona, but throughout the pickleball world.

To our family, Jordan was a bright, caring son and devoted brother—our protector and our light. To the friends and players at Pictona, he was a leader, teammate, and friend whose spirit elevated everyone around him.

Thank you, Pictona, for embracing Jordan so completely. Your warmth and support have meant everything to us during this difficult time. We carry Jordan's light forward through our actions—on and off the court—hoping others will feel the same kindness and passion he gave so freely.