Bowling, Band, and PETA

When I was little as I always thought people worked at occupations because they liked it. If you were a milkman - you liked cows and milk; if you worked as a fireman - you liked to save people and had a slight fascination with fire; and if you worked a a bowling alley you liked to bowl. I have grown a bit wiser as I've aged, but I still think that if you work at a bowling alley - you should at least bowl. Not true with my next stranger. I walked into the Rowlett Bowl A Rama and the only people there where the employees and myself. So I walked up to the counter, interrupted what appeared to an early dinner from Sonic, and rattled off my spiel about meeting a stranger a day; extended my hand and said, "Hi, my name is Donna." He extended his hand and told me that his name was Paul. I asked what I thought was an obvious question, "So how well do you bowl?" And his answer surprised me. "I am not a bowler - don't know anything about bowling and I can only bowl if the bumpers are up." In my head I screamed, WHAT, How is that possible?? And then without a filter, my outside voice said the same thing except I didn't yell it. Paul explained that he had been laid off from Starbucks and on a trip back from the lake he decided to stop in and see if they were hiring. He said that he had to go through three interviews before he got the job (I am guessing that might be about right for a guy who doesn't know a thing about bowling). He went to tell me league bowling happens every night and Tuesday's are $2 beer and $2 bowling. For me, a girl who loves to bowl, that sounds like a return trip on another Tuesday.

While I was at the bowling alley, I also officially met David. I had seen David before at the Sachse High School football games and knew he was a band parent, but I did not know who he belonged to - until then. He told me that he was the dad of Brandon and Brittany who played in the band. "Oh, I know Brandon. Our son, Mason, is friend's with Brandon." He nodded in agreement. I told him that I thought he was still managing Chuck E. Cheese and he told me he was, but he was now back at the Bowl A Rama. He told me that Brandon was bound for the University of Houston after graduation and I told him congratulations. I told David that I was glad that I could now put face and name together. I wished them both a good day and headed out the door.

I am glad that Paul was able to find a job after being laid off. But in my humble opinion, I think working in a bowling alley and not like bowling is like having a PETA supporter work in a butcher shoppe.....it just seems weird.