LYNNWOOD — In 1973, Vivian Baer joined her daughter Joan in a free bowling class at Lynnwood Bowl &Skate.
Mom was hooked.
Soon, bowling became a family tradition. Today, Vivian, 90, her son Richard, daughter Joan Wimmer and Joan’s husband, Ron, get together as “The Over the Hill Gang” bowling team, for people 55 and older, every Monday at Lynnwood Bowl &Skate.
“She’s so alert and bright, it’s kind of an encouragement to other seniors to know you don’t have to give up,” said Fern Thompson of Edmonds, a longtime bowler and member of the Over the Hill Gang.
Vivian and Homer Baer settled in Alderwood Manor in 1947. The house in which they raised their children is long gone; the six-acre rural spread is now the site of a Target store just east of Alderwood mall.
“That’s where we grew up, right where Target is,” said Joan, 67. “In fact, the house was moved twice. We sold those six acres and that’s how we were able to buy our place on Whidbey Island.”
Every New Year’s Eve, the family would get together for moonlight bowling. Even the grandchildren joined in, Vivian recalled.
The kids have moved away from Lynnwood. Joan lives on Whidbey Island and Richard lives in Woodinville. Other siblings are spread around the country.
Vivian and Homer live in a house on two acres just outside the Lynnwood city limits. Homer gave up bowling last year at 91, because of a lung condition. Ron Wimmer took his place.
But every Monday, Richard and Joan and their families meet at their parents’ house to mow the lawn, clean the house and help out in any way they can.
Bowling is the glue that makes the Monday get-togethers more fun.
“It’s the one time every week that she gets out,” Richard said. “I think that’s the only time she goes out anymore is to go bowling … and to have lunch with friends.”
Just like old times, each sibling has a job to do.
“My job is the shopping and bookwork” Joan said. “Everybody had their little jobs. The boys keep up the acreage. It looks like a little park.”
Her mother’s grateful for their help.
“If it wasn’t for the kids, we don’t keep our place anymore,” Vivian said. “We don’t drive anymore.”
The family’s bowled at other alleys. But they’ve always returned to Lynnwood Bowl &Skate.
“I think, probably, these lanes work better than any other,” Joan said.
Vivian, who’s lost a little of her hearing in one ear, used to bowl with her own bowling ball, a 13-pounder, but now uses an 11-pound “house” or rental ball.
“When I get up there, I just hope I don’t fall down,” Vivian said. “I haven’t got good balance. I try not to swagger.”
Vivian’s been averaging about 125 points per game lately.
“I’ve been going down, down, down,” she said. “Every year, I go down a couple or three (points). Now, I strive to get 100 every game.”
Richard said Mom’s still focused on winning.
“She’s well aware of the scores at all times,” he said. “She’s still pretty competitive.”
She also watches bowling on TV.
“Every Sunday morning, 10 o’clock, Channel 31,” she said.
Last month, she had to choose between watching bowling and watching the Seattle Seahawks football game on another channel.
“I kept turning it back and forth,” she said.
Vivian says she has no intention of leaving the home she shares with her husband, and, for now, she plans to keep bowling.
“I’m going to bowl as long as the kids put up with me,” she said.
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