bowling league

Tom and I dated a few times at the bowling alley. I am not a beer drinker, so he would buy me cheap wine while we bowled. It was probably box wine because it was really cheap, and this was before box wine started to come into its own, which is only recently, the last couple of years. I had one date where I probably got food poisoning. I would bowl my turn then slip into the bathroom and be sick, come back and continue playing.

 I have never had much upper body strength so I always bowl with an eight pound ball. Since my little oops with the table saw I had not bowled much at all as I had to switch from left to right handed. When I would take the boys with their friends I would sit in the back and just watch. I am missing the proper fingers on my left hand and I wouldn't want to snap the very nice titanium pin the doctors put in one of my fingers to keep it attached and bendable. It bends a little stiffly to bowl. I would hate to have it bend the wrong way or not release when it should.

Our club has started a bowling league, The advertisement says no skill necessary. They will give us handicaps just like golf. I was invited to sub in. I had showed up a couple of times last year just to watch. The bowling alley still serves cheaply priced wine and beer and good tasting greasy burgers.

The first night I shot  58, 69, 74. No skill needed. The next week I was worse. I titillated the audience of spectating friends with a strike in the first throw. I didn't hit another pin for four more turns. I hit one pin and was thrilled. I ended that set with 28. A guy came up to me and told me I was leading with the wrong foot. Then someone else said to hold the ball up differently. Another person suggested I start on the other side of the alley. Tom suggested I bowl between my legs, granny style. I had another glass of cheap wine and plowed on.

That was a rough night. When I got up to bowl there was a lull in conversations. That silence that comes when no one has anything nice to say. I could feel the crowd praying I hit a pin, just one. All I can say is I can only improve from this point on. I have seen rock bottom. I will either get most improved or perseverance award . Though no prizes are really given, this is a party league.

Tom is loving the ball he bought last season. He has always wanted his own his own bowling ball. He even may have had one at one time that got lost in history. I am loving bowling league. I am looking forward to improving and hitting some pins. I need to strengthen my arms. After that 28, I left myself lots of room for improvement.