FORT POLK, La. " The food court at Fort Polk’s Post Exchange swarmed July 11 with amateur and veteran Wii bowlers alike seeking spares, strikes and fellowship during the second Burger King-sponsored Wii bowling tourney.
Seniors from Alexandria’s England Oaks retirement community, a neighborhood for men and women 55 and older, met for lunch before the 1 p.m. tourney began.
Some discussed strategy " how to twist the wrist to achieve the perfect backspin or swing shot " while others discussed the delight the tourney afforded them.
Dozens of children waited, some patiently, some tugging at mom’s shirt and asking, “when’s it going to start?” as the clock ticked slowly down to 1 p.m.
“There aren’t any children in our community,” said Dona Bouchillon, England Oaks resident and wife of the tourney organizer, Jim Bouchillon. “We love being able to come out here and see all the little kids, and to bowl with them. It’s an excellent opportunity and we always have a wonderful time.”
“I just hope those kids don’t beat me,” said Harry Trainer, another resident of England Oaks. “I have my pride.”
As for the kids, having less self control than their more seasoned counterparts, they grew impatient as the tourney began a little later than the expected starting time.
“They’re so excited. We’ve been waiting here since 10:30 a.m.,” said Linda Mann, who brought her three grandchildren to the Wii Bowling Tourney at Fort Polk’s PX food court. Employees handed out ice cream to grateful youths and seniors as competition heated up and Wii remotes were flung with fury.
“I’m going to win!” said Sean Pedin, one of Mann’s grandkids.
“My plan is to win. I go bowling a lot,” said another grandchild, Allison Boggs.
“Sean loves to bowl; he was refreshing our memories on how to play the game on the way over,” said Mann.
Meanwhile, Ed Zimmerman, a retired first sergeant, harbored his own strategy: “To win. But I’ll lighten up on the kids.”
From the perspective of the England Oaks crowd, the group of kids " many raised on the Nintendo Wii " seemed vaguely ominous: “They’re already gathering. It’s scary,” said Zimmerman.
Trainer pointed out that Zimmerman was the highest scorer for both tourneys that have been held thus far.
“It doesn’t matter what the score is,” said Zimmerman. “I’m in it to win it.”
Dona Bouchillon did not share her neighbors’ optimism.
“They’re going to beat the pants off of us,” she said with a smile.
Bouchillon and her husband Jim " who have been married for 60 years " visit Polk’s PX often, they said, and one day Janine Ursine, manager of the food court’s Burger King, approached them and invited them to play at the food court.
“He (Bouchillon) always comes in and we ment: They were talking about how active they are in their community and we thought it could be beneficial to the Fort Polk community as well,” said Ursine.
“We do this at England Oaks also, three times a week,” said Jim Bouchillon during the first tourney. “We really enjoy it because it’s outstanding exercise for older people. When we told Janine we do it there, she asked if we would do it at Fort Polk.”
And do it they did.
This time around, the England Oak crowd was a little less focused on the promise of exercise and more adamant on the idea of showing the kids a good time and, if they were lucky, a strike or three.
“They enjoy seeing older people do this,” said Bouchillon. “Sometimes people get the idea that when you get older, you just fade out. But we don’t. We’re here and we’re very active. Many of us are retired from the military and we like knowing we’re part of the Fort Polk community, too.”
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