I learned how to play bridge from my high school math teacher, when I grew up on Long Island. As a twist of fate, I ran into him at the Boca Raton, FL bridge club a few years ago. I had stopped playing bridge for decades and like many people began to play again socially. A good friend, Fern Herman, who became my mentor, convinced me to try duplicate about 20 years ago and I became addicted. Like many people in the bridge world, I developed a number of friendships, including one of my closest friends. In addition, I convinced several of my friends to take lessons.
I feel like I honed my skills by not only doing a lot of reading but always asking questions at the bridge table. So many were flattered to share their wisdom and I will always remember the pointer that Daisy Goecker gave me. You probably don’t remember, but at a sectional at Bala Cynwyd, David Silberman and I played against you and Bob. I was terrified and you both immediately put us at ease. Despite our huge handicap, you beat us but it was a very lovely experience.
I also remember getting my first gold points at Lancaster when we lost in the final round against Canadian pros – although I didn’t know it at the time. I could go on and on but needless to say, I still love playing bridge!
If I may, I’d like to go back to the beginning 1969 at Virginia Tech. in Blacksburg VA. I was walking down a dorm hall when I peeked in an open dorm room where 4 guys had 1 suitcase standing on end and another on top playing a card game. Being from New York but going to college in Virginia, I said “what are y’all doing?” They responded, playing bridge, whereupon I responded “may I watch” and they said yes. It wasn’t long before I asked “can I join” and again they said yes, and again it wasn’t long before the game spilled out into the floor study lounge and became almost a 24 hr game.
I thought it would be fun to learn to play bridge in August of 2022, after learning about Buster Keaton’s lifelong commitment to the game. I tried to teach myself, which did not go well. And so I sought out a teacher and was eventually led to Nick Nelson via Mary Miller. I attended his classes and searched for a partner, and played on BBO constantly. I had several people who were kind enough to let me drag them down for several in-person club games, and I took advantage of BBO’s daylong tournaments just to keep practicing.
I started to play the pair game in my club – the Bridge Studio of Delaware in this January, where the manager, my partners and the members all help me to achieve my bridge goal – happiness in my life journey.