Bittersweet League Starts Tuesday

[ArtVandelay]

My Old Man's company bowling league has had some issues (to me, it's the commissioner, but that's just my opinion...) and decided to restrict it to employees only because someone doesn't want to do the simple math to let non employees pay their way (as we have been doing). This person claims there's just no way around it, and that they've thought of everything. But I digress...

So, I'm out of that league because I'm family, not an employee. BUT, after having to get completely new equipment, I finally have things figured out a bit, and the last two months I've been averaging about a 194, which is the highest I've ever been. I feel like my first 700 series might be around the corner, and I just don't want to stop now!

So a couple of the people who got kicked out decided to form a team in another league, but my Old Man was scooped up by another team and will continue in his company league. This will be the first league I've ever bowled in without my Pops.

I can't seem get excited about it. Maybe bowling isn't that important to me, and I enjoy the father/son aspect of it more. I blame my Grandfather who used the Red Sox to bond with me. Now the Red Sox aren't as much a team as a memory of a great man and some of the best times of my life spent watching a baseball team with him.

Anyone else use bowling as a way to be closer to your family?

[STRYKER]

the only league i currently bowl in a mens league and the team is me my dad my uncle and 2 of my cousins so i know the feeling

[classygranny]

It's so great to see that the two of you feel this way about your fathers and family. Wish I still had my dad around to bowl with, or visit with.

Don't know what to tell you about your actual thread, but cherish all the time you have with your family - bowling would be second, but doing it together is great! ArtVandelay, maybe you and dad can bowl another league together - or tournaments - or just practice on a regular basis. I know, it's not the same, but don't give up bowling as it's still a common thread with dad.

Life changes - embrace it.

[billf]

I only bowl one of my leagues with my daughter. She is the one that got me bowling. She isn't built for sports and was real bad at softball as a child but bowling was different. You don't have to be strong, fast or ultra-coordinated to compete. She was an awful bowler her first year but had fun. Her sophomore year she wanted to quit because she was so bad, lowest average on the team. I wouldn't let her quit. I explained how I had always let her quit things before and she had to learn how to struggle through, practice, improve and turn a negative into a positive. She only practiced with the team at that point and said practicing alone was too boring. The next day I started bowling with her.

Having to show me everything, as I had never bowled before, reinforced everything she was suppose to be doing. Coupled with practicing and how easily I picked bowling up, her average steadily climbed. Her junior year was respectable as she averaged 170. That summer she attended a bowling clinic by John Jowdy and what she learned there really clicked for her. Practice time wasn't an issue as she got a job at the local center shortly after making the team freshman year. Senior year she was named captain, bowled anchor and had a phenomenal season. She won the GWOC (greater western Ohio conference) and finished fourth at state.

In college she bowled for Wright State University but quit after one season. I was devastated. She said it was too competitive and not fun anymore. Four years later I bought her a DV8 Reckless and talked her into subbing on a Sunday morning. Everyone was glad to see her at the alley and was amazed when she rolled an 834 series after all that time away from bowling. She subbed that season and the next season (this past season) joined my Saturday night mixed league on another team she put together. This summer she also put together a team for our Tuesday night league where she currently is averaging 235 leading males and females in average.

Currently she is taking the level 1 classes and will be helping me coach the kids on Saturday morinings during the youth league. She wants to work with the youngest kids and I'm more than willing to let her do just that.

So even though we don't bowl an a team together, I will never give the sport up as it helped us so much through the years. Bowling and music are the only two things we have in common. To give up on the sport would be like giving up on the memories.

[vdubtx]

To give up on the sport would be like giving up on the memories.

That's awesome Bill.

[stumblintowards100]

It's so great to see that the two of you feel this way about your fathers and family. Wish I still had my dad around to bowl with, or visit with.

Don't know what to tell you about your actual thread, but cherish all the time you have with your family - bowling would be second, but doing it together is great! ArtVandelay, maybe you and dad can bowl another league together - or tournaments - or just practice on a regular basis. I know, it's not the same, but don't give up bowling as it's still a common thread with dad.

Life changes - embrace it.

I'm with you classygranny. I'd give anything to have my dad around these days. He and I never bowled together, but my son got me back into bowling about 6 years ago. We've rolled together on a few leagues, and currently enjoy "doing our own thing". Our teams are actually going head to head tonight, and the trash talking in the office and on the league Facebook page is priceless. lol.
My suggestion to the OP would be to find another league that you and "pops" can roll together in, if it's possible.

[hudman]

My Old Man's company bowling league has had some issues (to me, it's the commissioner, but that's just my opinion...) and decided to restrict it to employees only because someone doesn't want to do the simple math to let non employees pay their way (as we have been doing). This person claims there's just no way around it, and that they've thought of everything. But I digress...

So, I'm out of that league because I'm family, not an employee. BUT, after having to get completely new equipment, I finally have things figured out a bit, and the last two months I've been averaging about a 194, which is the highest I've ever been. I feel like my first 700 series might be around the corner, and I just don't want to stop now!

So a couple of the people who got kicked out decided to form a team in another league, but my Old Man was scooped up by another team and will continue in his company league. This will be the first league I've ever bowled in without my Pops.

I can't seem get excited about it. Maybe bowling isn't that important to me, and I enjoy the father/son aspect of it more. I blame my Grandfather who used the Red Sox to bond with me. Now the Red Sox aren't as much a team as a memory of a great man and some of the best times of my life spent watching a baseball team with him.

Anyone else use bowling as a way to be closer to your family?

Bowling was big in my family growing up. I bowled in leagues with my mom and dad over the years.

My dad and I used to do a lot of practice bowling. He died 12 years ago at age 53. I miss my dad every day. Bowling reminds me of the good times we shared. Now my 13 year old son and I bowl together. The tradition continues.

My advice: Treasure every minute you spend with your dad - life is unpredictable.