Pauline Kinzie overslept Wednesday morning's bowling league at College Bowl.
Her competitors patiently waited for her arrival, having planned a surprise party for Texarkana's oldest bowler, who will be 100 on Sunday.
Hugs, kisses, cake, gifts and media greeted Pauline as she walked into the center, and she wasn't the least bit shy about the celebration. She missed her first game to do interviews and photo sessions with local media.
"I don't mind talking about my age anymore," Pauline said. "I did feel differently, but that changed when I turned 90."
A native of Marion, Ind., Pauline moved to Texarkana eight years ago from Florida after her husband had died. She lives with her son in Redwater, Texas.
So is bowling the secret for living to be 100?
"I think it has helped," she said. "I've bowled for around 56 years. The secret is staying active. When I lived in Florida I played a lot of golf,
too.
"My career was decorating windows. I've always walked a lot. At work I'd walk from the front to the back all the time, which was about a half-block. Display was on the second floor and I was always walking up and down the stairs."
Pauline says she's been blessed with good health, and it has played a role in her success at bowling centers and on golf courses. She's got an impressive trophy room according to family members.
One summer, several years ago, her bowling average peaked at 160. Pauline noted anything near 150 was the norm then, but age finally caught up with her game.
She started bowling in Indiana with a 15-pound ball. Today she rolls a 10-pounder and she'd be satisfied with a 100 average.
"I've never been a strike bowler, I've lived on spares," Pauline said. "My highest game was 238. I always had a goal of bowling a 600 series, but 596 and 594 was as close as I ever got."
Bowling has not only kept Pauline going, but at least one of her teammates.
"She's motivation for me," said 85-year-old Jo Ann Shumaker, who recently suffered a stroke. "We've been bowling together since she moved to Texarkana. I'm amazed she can even pick up a bowling ball, but she does much more than that. Everyone in the league was amazed when we told them we had a 92-year-old lady joining our team eight years ago."
Pauline's daughter-in-law, Rose Luck, boasted about all the beautiful paintings in her house that were works of Pauline.
Hardly frail, Pauline admits her bowling seasons are probably numbered. She's not even committing to next season.
"I still walk some, but not as much as I should; I hate admitting it, but I'm getting wobbly," she said. "I just don't know how much longer I can bowl. That's something only God can tell you."
Pauline is content with the present, and having a loving family and so many friends, who shared time to celebrate a rare birthday.