I can’t think of my bridge life without thinking of my brother Tom, a lovely 62 year old sweet soul with Down’s syndrome. Tom came to live with my husband and me 23 years ago, 5 years before I started playing bridge. Tom was there whether I was playing locally on club teams,duplicate at the Jersey shore or taking lessons and playing duplicate at the Vero Beach bridge center.  Tom was not literally at the table with me. Rather, he was riding his bike up and down the Ocean City boardwalk (once as far as Atlantic City!) or riding his bike 12 miles to take tennis lessons in Vero Beach.

Locally, he worked in Chestnut Hill on the avenue and would spend hours with all the local business people….even being interviewed by channel 6 as the honorary mayor of Chestnut Hill!  Tom would always encourage me to play bridge… “Bridge makes you happy, Rene.”  A true sentiment but I eventually realized his ulterior motive….freedom!  So Tom was right…bridge made me happy and perhaps him even happier!

Sadly, Tom now has dementia and his blue eyes are usually clouded by confusion. I told him that I reached a new level in bridge and he just nodded.  A few minutes later he smiled and said “bridge makes you happy”.

Sweet brother.