Originally filmed March 2006
The story: My mom only bowled with these women for a few years. But many of them had been bowling together since the 1950′s, when they were the Rogers School PTA Bowling League in West Rogers Park.
Behind the Story: I have to say, I still laugh every time I watch this. What a great group of feisty, funny women!
My mom was after me for a long time to do this story. “Some of these ladies have been bowling together for 50 years! How can you go wrong?” I finally agreed, but when cameraman Tom Siegel and I arrived at Sy’s Lanes in Lincolnwood, I thought, “am I out of my mind!?” It’s my mom, my aunt and their friends — if this piece is bad, I’m in serious trouble.
Tom is always great at loosening up a situation, but with a group of older Jewish women, Tom’s inner borscht belt headliner took over. The mood eased up quickly, thanks to Tom, but the best line of the night came from bowler Lois Goldfein. She was talking about how, years ago, they were getting pushed out of the PTA bowling league by younger women. “They were having babies,” she said, “and we were having hysterectomies.”
My visit with the bowling league was back in 2006. Now, most of the women are in their 80′s and no one is bowling anymore. But they had a reunion lunch not long ago, and my mom got a few updates.
Four of the ladies walk regularly at Lincolnwood Town Center mall. Florence still makes beautiful, unusual baskets. Eva’s daughter Debra Silverstein is running against Bernie Stone for alderman of the 50th Ward. My Aunt Sylvia has 19 grandchildren if my math is correct. Lois Goldfein rarely misses a Bulls game. And Sy’s Lanes is closed.
