THE BOWLER IN ME

Reading this article reminded me of some high school memories.

I was a bowler in high school with a couple of my buddies, Barry 'Hog' Brown, Mark 'Morg' Morgan and Steve 'Tree' McCoy. None of us ever had the bowling skills of the guy in the story...but just reading it took me back nearly 40 years.

Steve worked...forever I think...at Ft. Sackville...one of the bowling alleys in Vincennes. Several of us frequently stopped by, particularly on the weekends, to see how Tree was doing. He ran the front desk...getting people set up to bowl...getting their shoes...answering the phone...and the frequent runs to the back of the alley to free a stuck pin or bowling ball. Tree did it all with a great attitude, a grin on his face and a contagious sense of humor.

Mark worked at Schmidt Auto...an auto parts store...ironically just a block down the street from Ft. Sackville. Working with Morg at the store was Ray Lemon, a fellow who was quite a few years older than us...but the five of us formed a bowling team that bowled weekly over several bowling seasons...sponsored by Mark and Ray's employer...Schmidt Auto. We, on more than one occasion, were called something else...that rhymes with 'Schmidt'. Lovingly of course...in a teasing manner...by a roomful of men...all who took their bowling more seriously than we did.

I believe there were a dozen or so teams in our league. We were never at the top of the league...and never dead last...but I think only the team with the four 90-year old guys and the blind team were the only ones we finished ahead of !

Tree and Ray were good bowlers...Ray having bowled for years...and Tree with the obvious advantages of bowling whenever he wanted...for free. Hog, Morg and I brought up the rear for our team...Morg more in the rear than Barry and me.

One night...around Christmas time...the bowling alley was having a special contest during one of the games...with the winner receiving a 'bowling ball' as a Christmas gift. Fortunately for me, it was 'that game' that I seemed to put all the pieces together. What made it equally exciting for me, was that, probably the best bowler in the league, was also having a good game. It was neck-and-neck down to the last ball...and I won by a matter of a few pins! (I think I bowled a 236).

I was so excited...I was looking forward to going up in front of all the teams to accept my 'new' bowling ball. When I got up to the counter...I was handed a box about 3" x 3" in size. I opened it up and it was 'a Christmas ornament' ...in the shape of a black bowling ball.

You might guess my disappointment. I'm not sure if that stupid ornament even made it home that night. If it did...it was probably in a million pieces.


Dan