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As I looked at the final round-robin results for the local qualifier, I thought to myself, "Why am I still playing this silly game?" Out of 8 women, I placed 7th for the day. The woman in last place has only been playing for two months and is still learning so I didn't feel much accomplishment in beating her score. You see, years ago I used to be pretty good. Not magnificent, but pretty good. That serves only as a curse now, because the expectations are still there, but unfortunately the darts are not. So, I ask myself again, "why am I still playing?"

My dad first put a dart in my hand when I was about eight years old, although I never really picked it up as a hobby until a few years later. In my early teens I practiced every night. We had an old beat down dart board in our garage. In the winter it was extremely cold and in the summers, blistering hot. But I didn't care. I loved the challenge of getting better. I wanted to show up each week at league and prove that I was good. The older I got, the more friends I made and the more fun it became. My dad starting taking me to tournaments. We're from a small town in Southern Maryland and he'd take me to tournaments up and down the east coast at least a few times a year.

The more friends I made and the more games I won, the more I fell in love with this game. A game that is a true measure of not only your skill, but of your concentration and your determination. I loved to compete, and I loved the thrill of victory even more. Before each tournament I felt like a young kid on Christmas Eve. I couldn't wait for it to start and the whole weekend long, I was wishing it would never end.

Years went by, I went off to college, met new friends and picked up new hobbies. For almost three years, I never picked up a dart. Sure, I missed it, but I thought there were so many other things to experience. I decided to get back into it and joined a league about five years ago. I was sure that I would pick it right back up where I left off. I was so wrong. For the past five years I have struggled. I struggle on the dart board and I struggle with my reasons for playing. Yet every season, I sign up again. It's like I have something to hope for as long as I'm still trying.

Darts is one of those games that gets into your blood. People of all ages and all walks of life play. There is nothing like watching a new player hit their first "ton" or win their first match. There is also nothing like watching two of the best players go head to head in a close, high-point game. I love darts. I watch, I keep score, I encourage and I play. I play because it's part of who I am, it's ingrained in me. And win or lose, you can bet you'll see me again next week.

Learn more about this author, Charity Buntz.
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