Melinda Leighton met her fianc Jason Stein over ten pins and rented shoes.

“We have one of those bowling alley romances,” Leighton said. “He played on a team that a friend of mine bowled on. Before that I had never really talked to him, and then it just happened.”

Leighton credits her pending wedding plans to the social nature of cosmic bowling.

“During cosmic bowling, when you are loosening up and not concentrating on your league, that’s when you start interacting,” she said. “You can’t interact during league bowling. Well, you can, but not when Jason takes it so seriously.”

Every weekend, SI Bowl in Carterville turns out the lights and turns up the music during cosmic bowling. With party and black lighting and songs circa 1970 echoing overhead, bowlers can enjoy a party alternative to the regular game.

Vickie Hunsaker, manager of SI Bowl, said her bowling alley has been sponsoring cosmic bowling for at least eight years.

“The bowling industry was trying to cater to the younger bowlers in hopes of making it a more fun atmosphere,” Hunsaker said. “Many bowling centers now have cosmic bowls. It’s just more fun with the music and the lights.”

Alan Burk, an employee and John A. Logan Community College senior, said the bowling alley sees a good turnout for cosmic bowling on Friday nights. Participants include community members as well as college students. He also said he thinks part of cosmic bowling’s appeal is it is a recreation in which everyone can compete.

“It’s a lifetime sport,” he said. “We have people of all sizes and races. We even have people who can’t walk but can bowl.”

Mike James of Herrin said he has bowled for over 20 years. After his league games, James usually sticks around and plays a few games of cosmic bowling.

“It’s a whole different atmosphere [from league bowling],”James said. “It actually brings fun to the game of bowling.”

Even Burk himself likes to join in on the party.

“I love to come out,” he said. “It’s such a social sport. Everyone can just sit around and talk. You go throw a ball real quick and then grab a few beers. It’s a lot of fun.”

Stein said he likes to participate in cosmic bowling as a way to escape the pressures of everyday life.

“It releases stress for me, stress from everything,” Stein said. “It just relaxes you. You get to be with your friends. It doesn’t matter what you bowl; you are just here to have fun.”

Leighton said she also forgets her troubles when she hurls a ball down a lane.

“When you release the ball and knock down a whole bunch of pins, you can feel the stress coming off,” she said. “You just focus. You don’t worry about bills. You don’t worry about all the drama. You get to forget everything and just enjoy bowling.”

But when life’s lemons do start to get to her, Leighton just imagines them on the other end.

“If I think of my problems, then I’m like, ‘This is for the electric bill! Wham!'” she said. “‘This is for my kid getting a C on her report card! Wham!'”

Regardless of the reason to come, Hunsaker said cosmic bowling is a fun activity.

“It’s the best party in town,” she said. “It’s just a great recreation and a way to make new friends.”