Ever since reading Kevin Brockmeier’s A Brief History of the Dead whenever I learn about the death of someone I have cared about I immediately want to sit and scribble down every memory I have about them. Because by committing those memories to paper and pixels I can ensure that they are not forgotten and [...]
Posts Tagged: Bowling
31
Oct 08
Life imitates art
I just got an e-mail from Sister #3 that included a link to a story about a man who dropped dead moments after bowling a perfect 300 game. For those of you who are familiar with my short story “Lane 6″ you ought to be a little bit creeped out.
Only in my story the guy [...]
15
Oct 07
It’s so good to be back here
I saw the ruins of Dan Patch Lanes for the first time this weekend. It was not easy. Even harder still is having to dive back into the bowling alley stories so soon after viewing the wreckage. Reading though a rather crappy story I wrote called “Rocket Science” gives me that tight chest, I kind [...]
2
Oct 07
Gone, gone, gone: RIP Dan Patch Lanes
Well, it’s done. Gone. Over. Today they tore down Dan Patch Lanes. My dad sent the picture. I’m a little sad that I didn’t get to see it in person. Seeing the old building decimated has shaken me up much more then I thought it would. I really miss that place and the people that [...]
2
Jul 07
Our last goodbye
I sat down at the bar on Saturday and used my elbow to push aside empty cigarette packs, screwdrivers, and Diet Pepsi cans so my arm would have a place to rest. I could hear Dad and Scottie (a family friend) in the back talking about what to throw and what could be used in [...]
22
Apr 07
The Last Frame
It was the perfect last night. There was beer and pizza and the crash of pins mixed with laughter. The alley was full all day with old-timers and first-timers. Lots of people stopped by to bid adieu. Mom even said that at one point in the afternoon there was a 45 minute wait for a [...]
21
Apr 07
Bawling Banquet
Everyone stood up. The men took off their hats, and people looked at the ground solemnly. We were having a moment of silence for Eddie McQuestion. I was, of course, crying. I think Eddie might have been the one who started the Friday night league at Dan Patch Lanes. Eddie died a few years [...]
17
Apr 07
The last time ever grows ever near, or the Star Tribune does our little bowling alley proud
The Strib article about the bowling alley is up. The accompanying photo gallery even has a pic of my dad on top of one of the machines. The article is cute and sad. The reporter did a good job getting my mom’s voice down, which is awesome (and those of you familiar with my short [...]
15
Apr 07
Mighty Parking Lots punked
As I mentioned before they are gonna tear down the bowling alley to put up a parking lot. So when my cousin Wendy suggested we gather together for a final Chromey v Chromey, everyone was pretty game even though we just had one in November (as is tradition).
After arriving an hour late to Sister [...]
2
Apr 07
the big yellow taxi metaphor can’t be stretched thin enough
The Savage Pacer ran a cute article about the closing of the bowling alley. Apparently, they liked the paving paradise metaphor too.
23
Mar 07
This is not the last frame
It’s not the last night, but the melancholy is thicker then the cigarette smoke that hangs in the air like a cloudy blue curtain.
I am perched behind the bar like every Friday night from September to April for the past eight years. Smoochy from the Bowling Stones is sitting in the corner booth behind [...]
18
Mar 07
So long Sloppy Joe
The Sloppy Joe Bowling Tournament is no more. Never again will I serve Manwich Sloppy Joes with Bud Light at 9 on a Saturday morning. I’m not quite sure what to say about it all.
14
Mar 07
The case of the mysterious bowling alley phone call in the night
Dear Anya, Anka, but definitely not Anna or Hannah,
My mom called me about 10 o’clock last night. She called to tell me how you called down at the bowling alley, saying you were a friend of Jodi’s and that I’d know who you were. You offered very kind of condolences about the closing of the [...]
11
Mar 07
Actual Factual Toilet Repair
Jaycie and Max were perched at the bar at the bowling alley. It was about 9:30 in the morning. The Stink was keeping score for the Sloppy Joe Bowling Tournament, and I was feeding the kidlings blueberry muffins.
“Do you have canine teeth?” Max asked me.
“Sure I do.” I bared my teeth at him and pointed [...]
10
Mar 07
7, 189 or, They are gonna pave paradise and put up a parking lot
I haven’t talked about it much, but the bowling alley is nearing its final days. Come May 1st, Dan Patch Lanes will cease to exist. A bowling alley built in 1956 will be bulldozed to make room for a parking lot. Yes, really.
Dad is in the process of trying to find investors so he can [...]
