Bowling...

All last year my boys bowled. They've done it for a couple of years now. In the past they were put on the same team and slowly their averages went up. I don't think they really enjoyed being together too much though, because they are together all the time. When we moved down here we started a fresh season. This time the boys were divided by age. Alex got put on a Bantam, or youth, league, while Zachary got put on a junior league. Kids all the way up to 20 can be on this league. This year they really enjoyed it. They each had their own teammates and made friends. They worked for the team and for themselves, trying always to better their scores. That's the great thing about bowling, until you get to 300, you can always improve. Each frame is a fresh start. There's always a handicap too, so that the less proficient bowlers have a chance at a trophy, while individual trophies are given out to the best overall scorers.

When the season ended in April, Zachary wanted to take a break, but a new league opened up- theis time an adult/youth league. Alex still wanted to bowl. I was hesitant, but decided to try it. Usually money is an issue around here, so we don't do alot of things for ourselves (classes, clubs, etc...). We let the kids do things and tell ourselves that our time will come later on. This time though, I really wanted to try. So, we started out 7 weeks ago. There were some really good bowlers there, mostly high school students. They rock! They're all so friendly though. I made the mistake of missing the 2nd week, and when we showed up the next time, we were in 11th place. I was like dang, we're sunk. There is a handicap though, which really does help and give everyone a chance. Over the last 4 weeks we have worked our way back up to 3rd place. Every week is a fresh chance to do well, and you never really know what's going to happen. I just know that I like trying new things, bettering myself, and having fun with my son. I never want to stop any of those three things.

I tend to believe that when we are born we are given a book, but we are all capable of making our own storyline. As long as you keep going, keep experiencing, keep living, your storyline will go on as long as humanly possible. Look at George HW Bush, jumping out of a plane at 85. Once we stop living, stop dreaming, stop trying, sooner or later our storyline comes to an end. Once we are just sedentary over and over, we will be over. So, we should experience as much as we can!
Tomorrow night our team is taking on the 1st place team and we'll do our best!! Go Charmeleons!! (Obviously my team name was picked out by my 11 year old son:) - it's all about Pokemon)