Memories Rewind: Bowling Rebel
When you have a disability, you find new ways of doing normal everyday things. I was in a leadership program at my church and we had all reached our goal, so we celebrated.
We went bowling. While most people are contemplating what food they're going to order, I was thinking about how I was going to be able to bowl with everyone else and not make a fool of myself. Davey bowled...Shenea bowled...then it was my turn. I put my fingers into the black ball and got into position. That ball was heavy! Miss K showed me where to put my feet for balance.
1, 2, and 3. I let go of the ball hoping for the best. It landed straight in the gutter. All of my friends said it was OK. I shrugged off the incident and sat down to wait my turn. One of my teachers was up next. I can't remember what she bowled but anything more than 10 was good in my book. At least she had something up on the board.
It was my turn again. Wanting to help me, Miss K was trying to think of a way that I could bowl with everyone else so that I wouldn't be left out. "Have you ever heard of the Granny Bowl?" she asked.
"No, what's that?" I replied with curiosity. "Sit down on the floor and spread your legs out, M" Miss K said. Hmm, my plan of not making a fool of myself was thrown out of the window now. I warmed up by moving my arm back and forth a few times to get some momentum. Then, I let 'er rip with as much force as I could muster.
To my surprise, the ball didn't go into the gutter. It stayed in the middle and knocked down three pins. Woo hoo! I'm finally on the board! I thought. Mr. P and Miss K came and congratulated me. "Way to go, M!" Davey said. They didn't care that I had to sit on the floor to bowl. We laughed and ate pizza never giving it another thought. What good are friends that you can't be yourself around anyway?
At the end of the night, I found a way to do things my way and still had fun.
We went bowling. While most people are contemplating what food they're going to order, I was thinking about how I was going to be able to bowl with everyone else and not make a fool of myself. Davey bowled...Shenea bowled...then it was my turn. I put my fingers into the black ball and got into position. That ball was heavy! Miss K showed me where to put my feet for balance.
1, 2, and 3. I let go of the ball hoping for the best. It landed straight in the gutter. All of my friends said it was OK. I shrugged off the incident and sat down to wait my turn. One of my teachers was up next. I can't remember what she bowled but anything more than 10 was good in my book. At least she had something up on the board.
It was my turn again. Wanting to help me, Miss K was trying to think of a way that I could bowl with everyone else so that I wouldn't be left out. "Have you ever heard of the Granny Bowl?" she asked.
"No, what's that?" I replied with curiosity. "Sit down on the floor and spread your legs out, M" Miss K said. Hmm, my plan of not making a fool of myself was thrown out of the window now. I warmed up by moving my arm back and forth a few times to get some momentum. Then, I let 'er rip with as much force as I could muster.
To my surprise, the ball didn't go into the gutter. It stayed in the middle and knocked down three pins. Woo hoo! I'm finally on the board! I thought. Mr. P and Miss K came and congratulated me. "Way to go, M!" Davey said. They didn't care that I had to sit on the floor to bowl. We laughed and ate pizza never giving it another thought. What good are friends that you can't be yourself around anyway?
At the end of the night, I found a way to do things my way and still had fun.
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