rollin' and bowlin'

I got a bit of heat exhaustion from laboring in the sun yesterday at Habitat. Went home rested, took a shower and managed to get to our bowling league night but suffered with a piercing headache and slight nausea. Kept drinking water, then realized in the 2nd game that I needed salts and downed a few saltines. Managed to pull off a 106, 117, 145 (with a strike in the 10th frame).

To even out the teams, we bowl with a handicap based on our averages. I have a 104 average after a really bad 2nd week. And the team we played had averages like 250. So our handicap this week was 259 points. They calculate the handicap as 90% which means they don't give you the full difference between our averages, only 90% of it. Which means, for us to win we have to bowl just above our averages to make up the difference if the other team hits their averages. The first game the other team helped us out by not meeting their averages. But the 2nd and 3rd games were nail biters, with every pin counting as the other team rolled strings of strikes 5, 6 in a row. The third game came down to Gary.

Watching Gary play is always a treat as he does it with a special metal stick he designed that pushes the ball on the ground as he rolls up on his wheelchair and a couple of arms that he can give the ball twist with. It's an even bigger treat when he's pounding out strikes and all difficult spares. For someone who struggles with control over his body on a daily basis, it is even more amazing. But in my years of friendship with him, has never let me look at him as less than able. Sure we need to help him by setting his ball on the ground and he needs a ramp to step up onto the floor, but he'll bowl as well as the rest of them. He doesn't have a 154 average for nothing.

We were down 18 pins. He was coming into the 10th frame with a spare. He hit 6. We were down by 4 pins. It was all or nothing. He hits all 4 and gets the spare we win, if he misses we lose.

Everyone on their feet watching this ball roll. He takes a breath, rolls down the lane, gives his ball a touch of spin. SPARE! And that's how a 482 average team beat a 800 average team. Well, we had a bit of luck when one of the guys who looked like he was heading to a perfect game not only missed the strike, but got a split.

Bowling repeats lessons I've seen over and over again. Pick up the little things, the spares, the one or two pins. And make sure you hit your strikes when it counts most. It's not so much about creating a perfect game all the time. It's about doing what you need to do when you need to do it and doing a little bit at a time each and every day.

Special thanks to Sherwin for being our sub while my sister was on vacation. We're looking for a 5th person for winter league - wink.

This weekend: highs (a friend is officially "Dr.") and lows (Hubby's uncle's funeral, whose prayers will end with mah jong and lechon tomorrow). Then maybe a lunch with the in-laws for father's day.