Game results in a Wii case of Wii-itis
Norman mother relives days of avid bowling

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By Tami Althoff

Published: January 6, 2009

NORMAN — My parents joined the 21st century during the holidays and got a Wii. They’ve been spending most of their evenings playing Wii bowling.

A Nintendo Wii game console is seen on display in a case at Best Buy in Mountain View, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007. This year, it looks like the gift everybody is looking for is the same as last year: the Nintendo Wii. A year after its launch, the small video game console sells out almost immediately when it reaches stores, even after Nintendo Co. has ramped up production several times. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

My mother was an avid bowler when she was younger, even participating in a bowling league. I vividly remember her giant gold bowling ball, yellow and white bowling bag and brown bowling shoes accented with a tiny flower. I also remember her lugging me with her to the bowling alley. It was great fun.

My mom was enjoying reliving the days of her youth via the video game console until this past weekend. That’s when she encountered her first case of Wii-itis. I heard the news via a Facebook message from my youngest sister.

"Your parents have pulled muscles Wii bowling,” she wrote.

I thought she was kidding. I learned how serious she was when I talked to my mom.

My mom said she was in so much pain she wanted to cry. I didn’t know what to say to her. After all, I’m not the nurse in the family — that’s my youngest sister.

I believe they are taking a Wii break this week. Their injuries must heal by next week when they start the ballroom dance lessons my sisters and I got them for Christmas.

Comical calendars

A column last week about 2009 calendars encouraged Blanchard resident Jack Dill to e-mail me about the strange calendars he has encountered over the years.

"I like a laugh or a smile each morning, so though I have a new wall wildlife calendar here in the home office, my focus is always a daily tear-off desk calendar. I always prefer something with humor,” he wrote. "Last year, I had one of humorist Dave Barry quips and quotes. This year, it’s one I hadn’t heard of before — The Argyle Sweater. It leans to offbeat and sarcastic animal humor.”

Dill said the strangest calendar he’s seen was spotted while he was on vacation visiting a friend.

"He had one of ‘Largest Landfills,’” Dill wrote. "Now that was odd — pictures of huge landfill operations around the world.”

Related Topics: Culture and Lifestyle, Hobbies and Pastimes, Games, Bowling, Video Games