So I subbed last night at the "other" center in Gainesville (the one I don't work at, but learned to bowl in), and I had something of a moment of clarity doing so. The shot normally is super wet/dry, bounce-it-off-the-seven-board deal, but yesterday there was no comeback. I went through the normal ball change and adjustments until I found a line, then did my best to pound the bejesus out of my target, That Spot On The Lane. 

The revelation was that, in this singleness of mind, nothing rattled me. Not the increased difficulty of the shot, not the left five-pin, the pocket 7-9, the 7-10, not even the high-frequency ringing noise emenating from the scoring monitor. It was all about commitment to the shot and That Spot On The Lane. It was my only measure of success, to the point that I had no idea of my score or what frame it was. As far as I was concerned my score was 3 sprays, 2 pulls, one hand position brainfart, and a bunch of good shots. 

Now, a year ago it would have been all about the confusion, the fear, the hatred, and the drive home ruminating on what went wrong. And the score, always the score. Well, as has been said many times and much more eloquently, the score does not define you. It's what you brought to the foul line that's all important. Did you honor the shot or cheat it? Christ, I sound like a low-rent Dean Hinitz, but you get my point. 

That's why you'll never see my scores on this thing. (Well, unless it's more than two digits long and starts with a "9". I'll wear that shit like a crown. Of course, this scenario coming to pass would also be final sign of the apocolypse. But mark my words, I would be insufferable right up until the meteor ended all of us.) They don't matter. Commitment matters. Execution matters. Enjoying yourself and making the most out of each frame matters. Oh, and hot single ladies who bowl. Are you hearing me, Clara Guerrero? Why can't I find you on this stupid Internet?