I love knocking down those ten pins!
In honor of National Bowling Day on August 8th, I decided to share the story about how I got interested in bowling.
In case it's helpful, below are the topics covered in this post:
My Introduction to the Sport
My Dad introduced me to the sport when I was a young child. It was an activity we did together when he was in town.
My parents were separated, and Dad was an active-duty service member frequently on the move, so I did not see him often. His visits were extra special to me.
Dad and I were inseparable when he visited. Sometimes, we went bowling together.
I never understood the game as a child. All I knew was that I had to throw a heavy ball down a brown sidewalk to hit some tall things wearing red necklaces at the end. I used to give them names and apologize before throwing the ball at them.
Unbeknownst to me at the time, Dad also taught me Bowling Etiquette. For example, I learned at a very young age to not roll my ball when someone else was on the brown sidewalk. Hopefully this meant I was not a nuisance to other bowlers when Dad took me to a bowling alley.
If I was with Dad, it was fun! Little did I know, Dad had introduced me to a sport I would eventually grow to love several years later.
Learning About the Sport
My associate degree program required so many physical education (PE) credits. I was an inactive young adult who disliked the outdoors and physical activity. I preferred to be indoors playing video games. Yet, I had to complete my PE credits to graduate.
After reviewing the course options, I decided to attend Bowling I and Bowling II to complete my PE requirement. It was the best option for a lazy person who wanted to be indoors opposed to outdoors. I also remembered how much I enjoyed bowling with my Dad as a kid.
As I learned more about bowling etiquette, techniques, and score keeping (to include how to determine one's handicap), I learned to appreciate the sport. I found the physical act of bowling and watching my average increase week-after-week enjoyable.
I had a 120 average after I completed the Bowling I and Bowling II courses. When the last course ended, I decided to continue bowling as a new hobby.
Falling in Love with the Sport
Dad was happy that we shared one of his favorite hobbies. He graciously bought me my own bowling ball and accessories. Having my own bowling shoes was more comfortable than renting the uncomfortable pair from the bowling alley!
I bowled at least once a week until Dad convinced me to join a bowling league with him. We joined a Thursday night league as it best accommodated Dad's work schedule. It was great to bowl with Dad once again. At least this time around, I understood and appreciated the sport.
Dad also convinced me to participate in a few tournaments. I was stunned the first time I placed in the top 3 of something and won money equivalent to the cost of admission.
Money was great, but I preferred winning accessories. My favorite prize was a leather bowling jacket valued at over a hundred dollars that I gave to my Dad. My second favorite prize was a pair of ridiculously comfortable bowling sneakers.
My workplace was a few minutes’ drive from the bowling alley we went to, making it easy for me to visit during my lunch break every weekday. I recognized the employees as they often worked on league nights, but we got to know one another well when I started bowling there more often.
The bowling alley became a place of comfort and relaxation. Being there was a great escape from a hectic job that required so from me for very little pay and no health insurance.
I was only able to bowl during my lunch breaks because of Mr. Jim, the man who worked the front desk most days. On some days, he would "forget" to ask me to pay. As a goody-two-shoes, I always offered to pay, but Mr. Jim would give me some lame excuse, like, "I'm pretty sure you already paid when you walked in." Bowlers were only required to pay on the way out after their time spent on the lanes were calculated (pay-by-the-hour).
Because of Mr. Jim, my Dad, my coach, and the other many amazing people I met during my early bowling journey, I learned to love the sport and the bowling community.
What's Next?
I celebrated National Bowling Day by making a Polymer Clay Bowling Pin and Ball. If you want to celebrate this day, consider doing so by heading to your local bowling alley to play a game or watching others play.
Comment below to how you became interested in bowling!
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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