Seniors enjoy gaming day

The seniors were busy heckling and teasing each other about failing to pick up a spare or getting a split.

All was part of the Golden Hour Senior Center's Wii Bowling game Tuesday morning.

About eight seniors were taking turns bowling. Much like regular bowling the teams would keep score, switch lanes and take turns. A couple of big differences of course is they are using hand-held Wii controllers instead of a ball and a TV screen shows, the ball, the lanes and pins.

Chairs were placed in between the lanes, to keep the teams separated and to provide something for the seniors to use to balance themselves while using the Wii to throw the ball on the screen. As the players would get strikes or spares, the others would cheer.

Charlie Stanley, who is known to bowl 300s, was one of the Wii bowlers. He said for the past four years he has participated in Wii bowling at the center because it is fun.

As for his average, Stanley said they haven't been playing long enough this year to establish one.

"I don't know what it is this year," he said. "It's usually about 220."

Gail Robinson, who was on Stanley's team, was not having the best day of Wii bowling, which just goes to show just how much like real bowling it is. Anyone can have an off day, and Robinson was apparently having one Tuesday morning, but that didn't stop her from having fun.

"I just love it because we get together and we laugh," Robinson said.

Mary Slagowski, who was also on Stanley's team, said not only does she enjoy the socialization of the game, but how challenging the game is.

"I like it and I'm in good company," Slagowski said.

Goldie Buckendorf, another teammate, said she used to bowl on a regular bowling league on and off; and even though she enjoyed the real bowling it was hard on her joints.

"This is a lot easier on your arms," Buckendorf said.