Look Who I Meet At The Bowling Alley

Have you ever been somewhere where someone comes to you to say hello? You look at them and know you know them, but it takes a moment.

That happened to me last week at the Mt. Airy Bowling Lanes! This guy taps me on the shoulder and starts talking about Behnke’s. I was just so surprised that there he was. That big old smile is one that I will never forget, and I know many of you remember it from when you visited Behnke’s.

Bill Sessums worked for Behnke’s for about six years. Like many, he was a customer first. When he retired, he started working for us. You would find him out in the Woody Plants Department in Beltsville. Always ready to help with questions. He told me yesterday how much he loved it when a couple would come in, and he could give advice. Many times, as we all know, people would come in with big plans of what they wanted their yards to be. Bill was great at suggesting doing things in stages. Sometimes, folks need a little guidance on how big things grow.

For the past two Mondays, I have enjoyed bowling next to Bill. He subs for people when they cannot make it. (This bowling thing is pretty serious.) While everyone bowling on Monday’s Senior League is GREAT, and some are SPACTULAR at it, Bill is AMAZING. The man gets strikes, spares, and 10s the whole game!! I think he is a ringer! He told me he had been bowling since he was a child.

I am still trying to get the ball to go down the middle and not into the gutter. Since Bill’s team was right next to me yesterday, I asked him for a few tips! He told me why I needed to lift my arm with follow through and what happens to the ball when I don’t. Seeing what he meant was very helpful. Even though my teammates have repeatedly told me this same thing along with other tips, seeing his hand motion was helpful. I still had a lot of gutter balls, but I also got some 9s and 8s, so I was happy.

It was lovely catching up with Bill these last few weeks. Listening to his memories of being a customer in the 80’s until he started working the last few years we were open made me so happy. I have always known there was something special about Behnke Nurseries, but hearing it from someone else made my day. Bill is, and will always be, one of Behnke’s Best.