I must have been about 6 years old when I first discovered that time was fluid, sometimes it would seem to take forever and other times it sped up so fast…

Boswell Wilkie Circus was in town and my mom and dad were going to take the three children to see it.  Boy was I excited!  But it was an evening performance and we were told that we had to have an afternoon sleep so that we would be able to stay awake throughout the performance.

That afternoon, for the first time in my life, I found that time just dragged!  Of course I was too excited to nap, so the wait seemed eternal!

On the other end of the fluidity scale, when one reaches the destination, like being in Sweden with my son and family for 3 months, the time seems to enter a fast track mode.  Before I know it, the time is over and I am sitting alone in the airplane waiting for takeoff to take me back home.

I read somewhere on the web that this is called the Fluidity of Time.  I like thinking of it as such.  On going, no stopping it, like a river on it’s way to the sea.  We are set the minute we are born and the fluidity of time takes us to the inevitable ending.  Makes perfect sense.

But yesterday I felt is again.  I had told Janis, one of the ladies involved in the Tenpin Bowling League, that I would play in the evening league.  I guess trepidation, insecurity and dread played a part in how slowly the hours ticked by until 17:30 rolled around and I actually had to get to the venue.

When I previously played league just after my retirement, I had three super people in the team.  We played in what was called the Phantom League and chose to play on a Wednesday morning.  This was a super way to get into playing as there were only our team playing against our opponents.  Most of the other contestants were working, and so they chose to play in the evening league.

Occasionally we would join the evening league and I must confess that I felt very intimidated by the competition.  There is a fierceness about young men, and some women, who are super competitive.  I didn’t enjoy it that much.

So going last night was taking me right out of my comfort zone.  I arrived early and waited while the rest of the teams arrived.  I was expecting to be the outsider, but that didn’t happen.  I recognised a few of the players from before, and those I did not know, like my new partner, Susan, were just so welcoming and kind.

The night was full of excitement, plenty of skittles being demolished as strike after strike was happening in all the lanes.  The congratulations, hand slapping and encouragement when I got my strikes, and even when I only got two skittles a few times was great to get.

We played four games in quick succession and, as I did not have a handicap to work to, I was told that my four scores would form my own set of points to work towards in future, the aim being to try to improve each week. 

I was excited to see that I improved in each game and was more than happy with the overall game played.  My foot, which stops me from taking big steps when delivering the ball, adapted to the tiny, silly steps on the approach, but at least I could compete and play.  I am just so grateful.

So now I have been asked to join this group and I have something to look forward to again.

Petros spent the entire week cleaning up the gardens, tidying the building, scrubbing the stair strips and generally getting everything in order.  Why, you might ask?  He is off on his annual leave as from today.  I got an early morning message telling me that he had reached the bus terminal and was waiting for it to arrive.

I feel so blessed to have this gentleman work with us.  His work ethic and commitment are extraordinary and I hope he has a wonderful 3 week holiday in Gauteng with his family.