Three generations of the Spector/Anker family went bowling in Jacksonville Saturday afternoon. Grandma Jo (that's me), daughter Andrea, grandson Adam and Adam's wife, Amy.
The last time I picked up a bowling bowl has to be close to 50 years ago when I was a newcomer to South Florida and we belonged to the Bay Harbor Bowling League. If I remember correctly, I was a pretty respectable bowler in those days, snazzily decked out in a shirt that proclaimed "Joan" on the front and the league name on the back. Apparently, bowling is like bicycle riding. You never really forget how. Sort of.
My aim actually wasn't too bad. At least I can still see the pins at the end of the alley. That's a plus. It was the total lack of oomph as the ball left my hand and started down the alley that was the problem. As my daughter Andrea sweetly noted, by the time my ball finally reached the pins, it had forgetten the reason why it was there. The result was not exactly an impressive explosion of power, ala grandson Adam's succession of strikes, but rather a gentle journey guaranteed to do a minimum of damage to the pins and a maximum of damage to my score.
OK, so I didn't break 100, actually, I didn't break 80, but I managed to bowl two full games and still have strength to go shopping afterwards. I felt I deserved a handicap of at least 10 pins, considering my venerable age, but Adam wouldn't give an inch. So much for all those Dolphin games, Heat games and Panther games I took him to when he was a kid.
The Bowl America lanes where we played were much more colorful and comfortable than I remember about the alley where we bowled in the 60's, but the rental shoes were just as grungy. Yuk. Today's scores are totally computerized and show up in color overhead. In my case, not a good thing. I'm from the school where one member of the team was designated to sit at the little table facing the alley and write down the scores with pencil on a big paper grid. Oh well. Time marches on.
Game anyone???? I'll be glad to spot you a few pins.
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Photo captions: #1 Grandma gets ready to roll. #2 Amy & Andrea watch Adam roll a strike.
