Nannas Unite For Wii Bowling

Some of you may know that I spend a night out at my nanna’s condo every few weeks. Like many elderly people, she is widowed and often lonely. Unfortunately, my nanna is a fairly, "difficult" woman. She tends to voice her opinions when they aren't asked for and she could be considered a professional in gossip. The voicemails left on each of my family members cell phones always include a, "I know you're busy...but you never call me back," and a bundle of other guilt inducing words. When everyone hears these voicemails...they tend to stay away from her even further. I guess it's kind of like that crazy girl that keeps calling after that one night at the bar - except in a more matriarchal way.

I however am the nice guy, the one that calls the girl back and appeases her until eventually lying and saying he's moving out of the state to take care of his sick aunt - minus the lying part. Like all of my family members, I love my nanna. But unlike my other family members, I am able to deal with her shenanigans. It's been said that I'm her favorite. I bet it's because she knows I work for a promotional products company. FREE STUFF! That'll garner a #1 grandchild badge for anyone.

My nanna enjoys playing cards and teaching religious education to a class of 20 second-graders. She will only have one glass of wine, "With Ice!" and always points out, "How many young people there are!" whenever we go out. "Because you know Jenny, I am still young. I'm sharp!" she tells me. It's no surprise that she likes being around young people, as many of her friends and neighbors have been falling ill. It keeps her in good spirits to do things the "young people" do.

So when I saw an article about the latest trend in nursing homes, I decided I had to have my nanna over for a game of Wii bowling. Across the nation, the Wii game system has been gaining players. In fact, the first-ever national Wii League competition for senior communities is just taking off. It invited all seniors from assisted living homes to adult day care centers to join in on the virtual sport.
   
Some senior homes have adopted new Wii Wednesdays, where seniors enjoy games of Wii sports. There are even Wii family nights that invite all ages to join in on the fun. Henry Milliken, an 81 year old hadn't bowled in 40 years but bowled three strikes in a row when he picked up the Wii remote. This great liberation for many wheel chair bound and arthritis stricken adults is just what they need. I bet getting my nanna to throw some strikes at the virtual bowling alley could help to put her in better spirits too.

I think I may have even found her a bowling buddy. Sheila Perry, 72, a resident at Plymouth nursing home in Massachusetts said she was secretly practicing her skills on Wii. "I'm not telling my grandkids," she said. "I'm just going to go over there and play." Sounds just like the scheming nanna gets herself into. Now senior homes should start looking into promotional apparel imprinted with the Wii logo. Soon enough I'm sure we'll be seeing uniforms and the whole sha-bang. Maybe by then I'd have gotten my stubborn nanna to agree to join a league.