Another Pair of Shoes: The Kind You Rent That Skeeves The Feet

I haven't bowled in years. In fact, I don't think I've bowled in almost a decade. Yet, last night I went out in celebration of a birthday and I stuck my fingers into a ball and became thankful I didn't uncover any fingernails. I had six strikes, but that wasn't so hot because they were spread out and then I had horrible shots.

I was in a bowling league as a kid...in fact, Saturday bowling is what we all did. We were the cool kids and we received wooden pins at the end of a season. It's a real athlete's sport, I tell ya. I also have fond memories of Thursday nights with my father on Erie Boulevard, where I knew on the best nights he'd stop at the Clam Bar on the way home to get steak sandwiches.

Last night, there was only one game and I was thankful to bowl in the 130s. The bowling alleys are now fancy with gadgets, lights, televisions and other flashy distractions. It was hard to find the arrows, which I use to mark where to release the ball. When I found it, I was okay. When I couldn't see it, I was screwed.

Phew. Used to have my own bowling ball and bag. I think my sisters had them, too. My mom bowled at Flamingo lanes in a woman's league.

It's 2018. The shoes are the same, but now they charge $5.75 to rent them. They know how to make money.

It's still fun and one of these days I will beat my high of 198. I always wanted to hit the 200 mark. I'll get there before I die.

But today, I need to get into the pre-semester lane and focus on the arrows of a successful semester. Classes begin on Tuesday and I know preparation is everything. Time to nerd out and get it all together.

Channel Grease II here: We're going to bowlllllll tonight. We're going to rock, we're going to roll, we're boing to bop, we're going to bowl.

Just call me Stan Kowalski.

Yikes. It's September again!