This bowling season has thrown a number of family curve balls at me that I'm so glad I've been able channel my emotions through bowling. First my mother ended up in the hospital due to her damaged lungs (a long time smoker). Then my father ended up in the hospital and had a pacemaker put in a month later. This past week my mother ended up in the hospital again as they are trying to stabilize her breathing, but the long term prognosis is not good (probably six months to a year of life). This past Friday my favorite uncle died due to complications with his pneumonia.

I don't know what I would have done without bowling and message boards like this to keep my sanity. I have the support of my wife and daughter but there are times that you need to get something out in a healthy manner without driving yourself crazy- and bowling has been supplying that need.

Thank you for letting me vent...

Matt

Matt,

I am sorry to hear all of your misfortune.

I understand what you mean about bowling being an escape. There are probably more of us that view it in this way than we actually know.

I hope things work out for the best!

-Carl

An update: my mother's condition has gotten worse in the past 24 hours. My wife called me at 10:30 this morning and we went to the hospital to talk to her primary care physician. She's had a tear in one of her lungs which caused that lung to collapse. She has pneumonia now in both of her lungs, and they've placed a chest tube in the right side of her body. She does not wish to go on a ventilator, so the doctors will try as best as they can to keep her from feeling much pain, but she will be lucky to live another couple of weeks.

My father is devastated- my mother and father had just celebrated their 40 year wedding anniversary. I missed the last night of my winter league as we had a consultation with my mother's PCP to see what steps we would like to take next.

I start my summer leagues this Thursday- and boy will I look forward to bowling again.

Matt

Matt,

Hang in there as best you can. I wish you and your family the best.
I work a graveyard shift in Las Vegas and the bowling alley has become my golf course. I work in the healthcare industry (EMT) and the daily experiences can be depressing and an emotional grind. I just love rolling into the center at 4:00a.m. to practice. Many a morning I've been the lone bowler in a 70 lane center. I say my hellos at the desk and get to work. Twenty games some mornings. I just get lost in that huge, quiet center and the only thing that matters right then is the next shot. I'm dealing with torn knee cartilige right now and this message board is helping me maintain some semblance of sanity too. I'm going nuts w/o bowling and it hasn't even been a week yet. Best wishes, Matt.
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You're not Mr. Purple.
 Some guy on another job is Mr. Purple.
 You're Mr. Pink.

matt,

      It is not an easy thing to go through when family members are ill or dieing, but bowling seems to cool one down. I had a similar case when i was informed that my grandfather would be passing away quite soon, the week before he passed i told him i was going to bowl for him that week, did so and bowled the highest game and series on my league... sad times. Hope you can get through it good, god bless you and your family
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SlickTape Advisory staff member
Track Bowling.com
Evolutionary - Revolutionary
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