My daughter Meg and her significant other Max invited me to a night of bowling; Max’s treat. As I am completely unable to turn anything down that is free; I leapt at the offer.
I was a bit hesitant at first though. I had not bowled in more years than I care to remember and back then I was not a great bowler, but a capable one. I could bowl almost silently with no loud crashes as the ball hit the middle of the lane. Things have obviously changed since I’d been an almost regular bowler. In the old days, you got told off for hurling the ball halfway down the lane.
Not now. I was about the only person who was bowling “quietly.” I was surrounded by the thuds of balls chucked ungracefully down the lanes. It almost sounded like bombs hitting, so much so that I felt like ducking for cover.
Still it was an enjoyable night and despite my protestations over my lack of practice and skill I managed to win two games and was well on the way to winning the third when our time ran out.
During the evening I only had one reminder of my age and that was when my knee “went” and I sort of hobbled my way to the line as I approached, ball in hand, to hopefully get a strike. I discovered that I wasn’t that bad even with the dodgy knee and I marvelled at the fact that I could even bowl at all. The last time I’d been down to a bowling alley you could still smoke as you played.
So the pleasant part of the evening was realising that I could still get the odd strike without smoking and without the aid of Anheuser Busch‘s Budweiser lager (beer). I guess it is sort of like riding a bicycle, you never really forget how to bowl.
The unpleasant part of the evening came the next day and the day after the next day. I felt like I had run the London marathon, twice. I went to roll out of bed the morning after our “bowl-a-thon” and wound up having to creep out slowly.
My catalogue of aches and pains started with my hips and moved on down my legs to my knees. I felt about a thousand years old and had definitely passed my “sell by” date. After taking my back pills it eased up enough that I was able to take my daily “heart” walk.
This morning, aka the day after the next day, I had the exact same experience upon waking. Creeping slowly out of bed was once again the order of the day and I was so sore that I actually cut my “heart” walk in half.
I am still amazed that the end result of such a non-strenuous activity could cause so much discomfort. A painful reminder of just how far I really have to go before I am even close to my old fitness level. It is a bit disconcerting.
Just as I am getting used to the steady daily improvement of energy levels and endurance levels, I go bowling and have a muscular set back that is as disturbing as it is amusing. I guess that before I go bowling again, I’d better train myself up for it.
Of course I could try something even less strenuous like competitive knitting although the damage to my wrists could guarantee that I never play the violin again. Perhaps Tiddly Winks or Jacks just to be on the safe side.
In reality though, I can be as competitive as I want on an on-line multi-player video game like COD or Black Ops II (which is just COD under a different name) and I will probably do that as soon as I’ve rested up from my one way excursion to Tesco.
I really would like to write more on the subject of my bowling night but it’s time for my session with some Deep Heat.
Now where did I put my Zimmer Frame…
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Ohh do you play COD with fans? wink 😉
Thanks for stopping by, it’s always a pleasure. And passing the well wishes your way. Cheers mate!! 😀
Seems as one gets older, what one did in one’s youth, regardless of how well, just doesn’t make any difference………lol
…..and another Russel Ray camping trip comes to an end………………..Hope all is well.
Matching shirts? Tsk tsk tsk… LOL 😉
Yeah! LOL Not to mention the head and neck!! 😀
😀
LOL I used to be a league bowler too 🙂 High fiving every half strike etc 🙂
🙂 Glad I could help! Just don’t EVER attempt it 😉 Could end up being painful on the wrists 😉
It’s funny that you should write this article. Mike; I have been wanting to go bowling for quite some time now. I used to go fairly regularly and was even in a league at one point.
Hmmm. The shaking the fist thing IS tempting plus I can shout, “Do you wanna die??” LOL Yeah I think CoD is my best option and I can do it sitting down! LOL 😀
You could always take up the sport of standing on your porch and waving your fist whilst you tell the youngsters to get off your lawn. Outside of that I’d go with the CoD. You might be able to turn pro and bring in some extra income.
Bowling will do that, though. I’ve gotten a sore arm the next day after going bowling. Slinging a heavy ball repeatedly can do that. It’s not a movement most of us tend to make on a regular basis.
It has already eased up just from my amusement in picturing a bowling break dance! LOL Thanks mate!! 😀
Love bowling just really bad at it! I have this issue of stability with those bowling shoes and I slip and fall backwards resulting in me tossing the ball forward but then doing this weird break dance move. Something I have never learned to do before..haha!
Hope your pain goes away soon!
Were you kicking the ball?
Whew! That’s good news, I was going to have to put a deposit down on one of the fancier ones. LOL Cheers as always mate! 😀
I was ten the first time I went bowling. It was duck pins which was deemed more suitable for a kid. I did miserably, it being my first experience and also later discovering that duck pins are harder than regular 10 pins. Lighter, but not easier.
The next week I couldn’t move. EVERYthing hurt. I used muscles to bowl I hadn’t ever used before. Bowling may not be strenous, but it uses specific muscles and unless you do something else that uses them, they are going to hurt a lot when you make them work. Ditto any sport, including miniature golf for heaven’s sake! It’s not your age. It’s just not doing it regularly. I think you can safely save the walker for another day 🙂
I actually have “bowled” on the xbox connect…I wasn’t too bad and I definitely was not sore the day after. 😀
Lol, that is very sad making. I love bowling but I tend to um…throw the ball backwards into the crowd of people behind me… 😉 You could do Wii bowling!! I am so much better at that.