League Night! My favorite night of the week. When I get home from work I like to jump in the shower to wash away all the stress of the day. After I dry off I go to the closet and look for my lucky bowling jersey and then it’s off to the bowling center. On my drive, I dream that tonight might be the night I hit that 300 game or 800 series. The drive to the bowl always feels longer than it really is. The rush to get my bowling shoes on overcomes my emotions. I am here, I see my bowling center and I quickly look for the closest spot to the doors so I can get into the center as quick as possible. I run in as fast as I can and look to find the lanes that proudly have my name. There it is lane 26. I grab my ball and rest it on the rack and slip my shoes on too. I find a spot to place my bag out of the way.

The hardest part now is the waiting game. Tick…Toc…Tick…Toc, why is time going so slowly? I calm myself down with a brisk walk to the snack bar to get a sandwich and a drink. Tick…Toc…Tick…Toc, I see some friends and ask them about their day, but what is happening now? The desk clerk is on the microphone getting ready to start league play but I hear his voice over the PA system but can not understand what he is saying. Then behind me, I hear the sound I have been waiting for all day! The Brunswick A2s are coming to life and it is the start of our league. I quickly found my spot in line and prepare for my ten minutes of practice. I throw that first ball and there it goes down the lane and it looks sweet, but I hear another sound, kind of a buzzing sound. I fouled! I was so excited to bowl I just ran up and throw the ball. When I came back my teammates all had a great laugh at my expense, but that is ok with me. I took the biggest deep breath that anyone could and then I threw the ball. No buzzers went off this time, this time it was the greatest shot ever. The clash of the ten pins could have been heard throughout the bowling center. I threw a few more shots and all had the same results, so I decided to sit and rest and wait for the night’s competition to start.

The lights come on and I am ready to get this night underway. I root for my teammates in front of me and congratulate the opposing team on their good shots. It is now my turn and after going through my preshot routine I grab my ball. I find my spot on the approach and I stare at the spot that I want to hit. I start my walk to the foul line and let that ball fly. I hit my mark and continue to watch the ball down the lane. Crash of the pins and none are left standing as I threw a strike. A sense of pride as I walk back to the table where my team was waiting to give me high fives. Most of that first game was the same and finished with a score of 232. At this point, I am feeling really good and can not wait for my turn in the next game.

Game two…here we go! I am on a high from the last game and hungry for another good game. So far the first half of the game seems like the first. I had a few strikes and made all my spares, but wait. I just threw the ball as well as I have been all night and just left a pocket 7-10. That can not be my fault, it must be the lane or the other guys on my line. I go and throw the ball as fast as I can and it found its way into the gutter halfway down the lane. I walk back to my table with my head down and muttering words under my breath. I go to my seat at the table and just sit there pouting not saying anything to anyone. Still thinking about that split… I started to think again was it me? Was it the ball? Should I move? Should I get another ball? With all this going on inside my head I still have to bowl. I get back up and throw the ball, it felt different and reacted differently than it has all night. I am still pondering what is going on and what I could do better or differently? I try to relax and throw the ball to my intended mark. I watch the ball roll over it and as it is going down the lane it hooks and I am left with a split. This game ended with a 179. I walked to the other end and try to shake off that last game. My teammate came up to me and said that it was ok and it happens to us all.

Thinking about what my teammate said seemed to loosen me up and my arm didn’t feel as tight as it did that last game. I started with the front five strikes and in the sixth frame I got it a little wide and it did come back but only nine pins fell…..that’s right the nasty ten pin was standing. I normally would get down on myself I thought about that advise my teammate told me last game. I threw my spare ball and down the lane it went. I watched it as it came off my hand and down the lane it went. Went it did and right past the ten pin it went and left me with an open frame. I would just walk back and be really mad, but I decided to just let it roll off my back because I am not bowling for a paycheck as a job. Bowling should be fun no matter what first and no matter if you shoot A 530 series or an 800 series just enjoy what you are doing.