03.12.07 Bowling
I don’t enjoy sweating. Therefore, I gravitate toward regular exercise which also involves speed and the cooling wind that comes with it. Biking, for instance. And...biking.
In college I took Yoga - renamed “stress management and relaxation” by the administration - and bowling. I’m not a power bowler. I’m not a fancy bowler. I don’t have my own ball. I don’t have my own shoes or weird shirt. I’m just the guy with the highest score at the end of ten frames.
Usually.
Grant and Brandon, seniors at CCU and our runners this past weekend, took us bowling in Denver to kill time before our flight home. Maybe it was the lighting. Maybe it was the massive projection screen at the end of the lane broadcasting the Kansas versus Texas game. Maybe it was the potency of my root beer. I don’t know, but I won the first game with a mediocre 118 (I think that’s right) and lost the second with an only slightly higher score that I’ve blocked out along with the pain and sarcastic taunts of my fellow bowlers.
After bowling, Grant and Brandon took us to dinner at Ted’s Montana grill where I was called a “Sally” by Grant for saying my chicken sandwich was too big to finish and informed that a dress could be made available to me if I needed it by Brandon.
Three days before, Brandon and Grant had picked us up at the airport and asked questions about the life of a soft rock star. Flashes went off occasionally. Awkward pauses were plentiful. The usual indescribable division between sudo-famous guy and fan was palpable.
But three days of hanging out together, eating, driving, talking about girls and life and what a “Sally” I am, changed all that. I think that’s good. I think.
Thanks Grant and Brandon for humbling me with your ridicule, getting us where we needed to be, and paying for everything. Next time I’m bringing my own shoes.
euphrony said:
In order to fulfill my kineseology requirements, I took archery. Four times. I got worse each time. My depth perception is pathetic, which generally meant I hit the target, but nowhere near where I wanted. We used straight pins stuck into the side of the bow as sights; that could explain part of it.
Shawn Bashor said:
That’s awesome Shaun...you got called a “Sally”. I’ve been called many things, but never a “Sally”.
said:
Shaun,
Taunting and ridicule in love is a sure sign of community.
keith said:
I took bowling in college, as well. I improved until my handicap was set. Then my skillz went down hill.
I like Ted’s, too, but am disappointed that you didn’t try the bison. I know you don’t eat red meat, but bison is… the other… red meat.
john said:
One of our favorite taunts between golfing buddies involves the word “Sally”. This of course applies for “real world” golf and video game golf.
When a player does not hit the ball hard enough to reach an easily reachable green or comes up extremely short of the cup on a putt they will hear “hit it with your purse next time, Sally”.
Thought I’d share.
Shaun Groves said:
Thanks for that, John. You just got yourself added to the growing list of people I will never recreate with...ever.
ally simpson said:
I SUCK at bowling!!! usually, last time i bowled i was in the middle of my labrynthitis period................now that WAS fun!
hey thats a nice shot of your ass shaun!! lol
john said:
We only question the masculinity of the ones we love, Shaun.
Professional athletes slap each others hind quarters; we insult one another. It’s all in good fun
.
said:
I can bowl a 118 too (if the bumpers are in place). I will make sure to dish out more ridicule next time we’re together so you’ll feel more loved by me too. I thought for sure the hat and gloves said it all, “Sally.” I’ll try harder next time.
Beth
Mark said:
Now I want to go bowling.
A couple years ago we took the youth at church bowling, and I beat everyone, including the acthletic director of our Christian school. You’d better believe I loved that.
RevJeff said:
Authenticity leads to ridicule… I’ll remember that one…