Stories – ACBL District 4

Ann Carroll – Junior Master

My Retirement Bucket List: 1. Become a Competent Bridge player.

My earliest childhood memories are of doing the military crawl under card tables to reach, undetected, the Bridge Mix candies my mother set out for her Bridge group. She was in love with Bridge and was, of course, a math teacher. Note: she did not teach any of her 7 children how to play.

After her death, I set out to learn bridge as a way to connect with her joyful bridge spirit and others. However, learning bridge in my 60s is more challenging than I anticipated! A friend and former colleague, Paula Matteson, agreed to help me learn and wrote an E-mail letter of introduction to Ann Smallen and Betty Youman of the Mohawk Valley Bridge Association (MVBA). Betty invited into her Monday night Bridge lessons at Acacia Village and shortly thereafter helped me into the “deep end of the pool”: MVBA duplicate bridge.

Betty and her brother Richard Hartz have been gracious in providing lessons before our MVBA Thursday game. Mike Mihevc, Bonnie Vanderlan, Penny Emerick, Paula Matteson and a host of others are more than patient with me when I play with them, all the while assuring me that they are not doing community service in lieu of jail time. They just love the game and want others to learn! The MVBA community is welcoming, kind, and generous of heart; they teach bridge and life lessons: play the cards you’re dealt, take prudent risks, and sometimes it is better to keep quiet (and pass.)

Many thanks to the plays of the MVBA!!

Barbara Lewis – Club Master

I am loving bridge and glad to have various opportunities to learn and play. I learned Goren bridge from my mother when young but hardly played until the last year and a half. Now I am addicted and learning all I can about new conventions and duplicate playing.

I play with Doylestown Country Club players in various leagues and have started going to area sanctioned events to gain playing experience. I know you taught many of the DCC players years ago and I have enjoyed some of your online lessons. Much of my learning has been from reading explanations from various experts. I find that a good way because some teachers get through to me better on one particular issue and others on another, maybe. But reading about some bridge item from a number of points of view helps clarify it. I even print out and compile the explanations I like the best! Then as I play more and more, and develop new questions, I go back and refresh and refine my knowledge. Playing with better players also is so helpful! I’m afraid I must drive some of our more experienced players crazy with my questioning.

David Morse – Junior Master

I have been away from home for six months working and can only play on BBO. I took a beginner’s class with Deb Crisfield last winter. She’s terrific.

I look forward to getting home and playing in person with actual human beings, even though it is a little more stressful. But I think all of us beginners feel that way and it is a part of learning. And it is nice to be in the same boat with people as we set off into the game.

Marlene Meyer – Sapphire Life Master

I started to play bridge in 1962 because my parents played and their discussions always sounded so interesting. Soon after that David began to come to the local club games and that’s how we met. We just celebrated our 60^thwedding anniversary.

I have to say I owe a lot of my bridge accomplishments to David though there were a lot of harsh discussions along the way, but I knew I was playing with the best in the area.

Through the years we have traveled to many tournaments. I have met some very interesting people and made many good friends.

Bridge has been a wonderful pastime, and we were even able to play in China on a few of David’s business trips.

Rosemary Kerwin – Junior Master

I would love to take the opportunity to recognize Anna DeLapo and the enormous role she has played in making bridge such a positive experience for me. Anna’s kindness, constant encouragement, and seemingly endless patience have meant so much as I have learned and grown as a player.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Anna directing bridge here in Southern Delaware. She creates such a welcoming and supportive environment for players at every level, and I am especially grateful for the encouragement she has given me along the way. She is a wonderful ambassador for the game.

Paul Irvine – Diamond Life Master

As a part-time player over the years, to reach the level of 5000 MPs, I have to credit my many partners.

I consider the point total more of a longevity achievement. However, I do consider my 2000+ Gold points and 76 Blue Ribbons to be more representative on my playing ability.

What gives me the most pleasure these days is being the Coach and Preceptor for the Lehigh University Bridge Club the last three years. Watching the young players (having brought 30+ students into ACBL membership) learn and compete is my bridge highlight.

My advice to bridge players, is to learn something new every time you play.

4 THE LOVE OF BRIDGE

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