It’s never too late to learn! I recently became a junior master – and I turned 89 a few days ago. I had played social bridge in college (you can guess how long ago that was). I met Julie, whom I married last November, three years ago. She is a Silver Life Master and an avid bridge player. I started watching her play with different partners early in 2018. She taught me bidding conventions (which were completely new to me), and showed me books on the subject. Charlie, who is a Gold Life Master living in the community where we live, started weekly bridge classes. Both Julie and Charlie are not only excellent players, but extremely patient with us newbies. I started playing just over a year ago – with Julie accepting me as her partner. I play weekly now, and am enjoying the challenge.

After retiring as a professional pilot in Texas in 2007, I moved with my husband Earle to the small town of Berkeley Springs in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. After settling there, we made many friends, some of whom were bridge players. I knew nothing about the game and had no interest (I thought). One day in late 2010, my friend Marie Hardy invited me to a luncheon, and I went, not knowing that after lunch, bridge would be played. I watched a bit, then got thrown in on a round and was hooked. I started taking lessons and kibitzed my first duplicate game within two weeks.

In early 2011, I joined the ACBL (District 5) and played 2-4 times a week in sanctioned and social bridge games. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I could get even more of a bridge fix by going to some tournaments. I twisted Marie’s arm and she helped me talk our Life Master friends Larry and Sandy King into going to a regional with us. Thanks to their coaching and excellent team skills, Marie and I got our first gold in Pittsburgh in 2012. I made Life Master late in 2014, just before Earle and I moved to Bucks County, PA to live closer to family.

In Pennsylvania, I found my new bridge home at member-owned North Penn Duplicate Bridge Club in North Wales, PA. The directors and members were very welcoming and before long, I found lots of partners. I very much enjoy playing at North Penn several times a week; it’s a true community of interesting and fun folks. I’m also glad to be a member of District 4 and Unit 141. Opportunities to play are plentiful and the local tournaments are run well by volunteers who clearly care very much about giving players a quality experience.

I often say there are lots of similarities between flying and the game of bridge. Both pursuits require serious concentration and focus, and both are great diversions…you can’t really think about much else whether you’re flying a plane or playing a bridge hand. But there are two big differences as well. During my career, I was able to learn pretty much all I needed to know about aviation to be a successful pilot. But there is no way I will never learn all there is to know about the game of bridge! And the other difference? Well, even the worst mistakes at the bridge table are generally not fatal. Hopefully. But to be on the safe side, choose kind partners.

I feel blessed to be a part of District 4 and love that this district steps out in front with new and different ways to make bridge fun for its members and others who come to our area to play. I feel like our district leaders are out in front in many ways.

I just joined the Board of my local club (North Penn) and will be looking for ways to become more involved in Unit and District events. While I definitely don’t aspire to “running” anything, I’m a decent worker bee and take direction pretty well. In any case, it’s probably time to think more about giving back a little more to this game that has been such a big part of my life over the past 10 years.

I am a retired teacher having taught at Dundalk CC. for almost 15 years in the health department and served as Athletic Director, Curriculum Coordinator, tennis and volleyball coach and acting Dept Head. I was given time off from the college to obtain my PH.D. from the University of Maryland with my dissertation on what should the 3 Maryland Community Colleges focus their curriculums for their communities. Having a burning desire to open my own health business, I worked 2 years doing cardiac rehab, teaching healthier lifestyles with the local physicians. This gave impetus to opening up my natural medicine and weight loss center with my pharmacist partner in 1990.. We were in the business for 22 years until I decided to retire and move from Maryland to York, Pa.

My passion in life was tennis and I was able to get a singles ranking in Maryland at number 14 and number one in women’s doubles which qualified us for Nationals in Florida. I was successful in getting a 4.5 ranking many years ago and after having foot surgery and now future knee replacement, I am hoping to get back to playing fun tennis. I enjoy kayaking, skiing, biking and walking my two dogs and being with my grandchildren. I have 2 adult children who live in Bel Air with my 6 grandchildren who rank in age from 21 to 14.

I credit my 91 year old mentor playing with me and my 4 months of duplicate bridge lessons from Cathy Brown. I only play on Wednesday morning,s as I love that group at White Rose who are fun and relaxed but also competitive. I have attached a pic taken during the conovirus pandemic. Would like more internet play bridge sites if possible since we are still social distancing.