Retirement Community Bonds Over Games Of Pool

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Pool is a game of precision and skill and can take years to perfect.

But a group of women from a Twin Cities retirement community are taking on that challenge.

While they still have a lot to learn, they told WCCO's Rachel Slavik why pool has become much more than just a game.

Such a simple concept.

"The object of the game is to pocket at many balls as you can," Beverly Nesseth said.

But for some reason shooting pool is easier said than done.

Just ask the ladies of the Friendship Village Retirement community.

It's not like they expect to clear the table.

"I'll just be glad to hit it," Nesseth said.

Instead, Nesseth and her teammates celebrate the smallest victories.

This is progress and each Sunday they hone their skills with their pool instructor.

Just a few months back, fellow community member Les Schrenk wanted more people to join him at the billiards table.

A team of one grew to two, which soon became three, and so on.

But it wasn't the game itself that brought in new blood.

Sunday's aren't about competition rather comradery.

"If I came down here by myself it wouldn't be fun, but I might get better," Nesseth said.

Pool may be an individual game but here it's very much a team effort.

"As a person gets older, you don't want to be alone.  You want to be with people and you want to feel useful," Les Schrenk said.

The ladies told Rachel they've become such good friends because of billiards they're also learning other new activities together.