Some of my happiest memories from childhood were Wednesday evenings. Throughout later elementary, junior high, and high school, my parents were part of a small group that got together every week. Dave and Lois Torgerson published the local newspaper and every Wednesday after they put the paper to bed, they met for a house party, rotating locations.
They called themselves the “bowling gang” – a bit of a misnomer because bowling wasn’t involved. They would have a few beers, talk, and laugh. Both my parents were normally pretty serious people, so it was fun to see them enjoying themselves.
Food was always a part of the evening. They would share potluck meals. Four of the five men were avid fisherman, so after a particularly good catch, they would clean fish and have a fish fry. I also remember many turkey dinners, large batches of barbecue, and pots of chili.
My brother and I were frequently invited along because we were the youngest. Most of the other couples’ children were older and already living away from home. I thought of those I got to know as cousins. About a month before I began junior high, some anxiety came up about starting seventh grade in the new wing of the school with the big kids. Kristi Thorson calmed my fears and told me what to expect. I was appreciative.
Music was sometimes a part of bowling night. If Janine Torgerson was home, she would sing and I would play the organ. When Doug Thorson was around, he’d play guitar and I’d accompany him on piano. If Bernie was visiting from Montana, I would play a little fiddle with him. Those were good memories also.
The group celebrated together – weddings, milestone birthdays, holidays, and sometimes just because. I remember my dad’s 50th birthday party. It was a surprise, and we pulled it off successfully. Steve Thorson and Bob Stotesberry took Dad fishing for the afternoon so we could prepare. It was a cold, windy, raw late April day. He got back home around 5 o’clock and went right into the shower. Exhaustion was evident on his face. When he came out of the bathroom, the first guests were waiting in the kitchen. His energy shifted quickly, and the fun started.
Once over the Christmas break, the bowling gang actually went bowling. They gathered up all the kids who were home, and everyone went to the lanes. It was one of my first times bowling. I didn’t do very well, but it was fun. My dad had bowled back in the day, so he dug out of his old bowling ball and shoes. That afternoon in his first game, after not bowling for over twenty years, he bowled a 200. He was thrilled.
Another time the whole group got together on an afternoon in December and decorated gingerbread houses. Each person worked on their own. Although I didn’t attend because I was away at college, my mom still talks about this every holiday. The men initially “pooh-poohed” the idea, but they ended up having just as much fun as the women. In the pictures, they are beaming.
I thought of the bowling gang this morning and got nostalgic. Many of the core group of five couples are gone now. Dad, Steve and Ellie Thorson, Keith Sheldorf, Bob Stotesberry, and Audrey Bender have all passed. Only Mom, Verna Sheldorf, and Dave and Lois Torgerson are still alive. My parents modeled good connection with friends. These are cherished memories of home.
This work is real, and it matters.
December 16, 2021