I played bridge in college in the early 1970’s.  After college I took a 50-year break from playing.  When my wife passed last year, I needed an outlet, so I had mentioned to a friend I played bridge years ago and she hooked me up with the Dick Bowers Bridge Club in Winchester Virginia. 

One of the members, Milan Majarov, offered a class in bidding.  So, having been away from the game for so many years, I took his class.  I began play with the club in April of this year.  Everyone welcomed me and went out of their way to make me feel at home.  I was able to accumulate a few master points, not because I’m a great bridge player, but because I had great partners.  All the players in this club are excellent bridge players and help me learn more about the game each time I play.

I first took lessons in the mid-1970’s with my then husband in Binghamton, NY. We  joined the ACBL. We played some social bridge and played duplicate twice a week. We enjoyed the social aspect as well as the challenge of competition, but we never set the bridge world on fire.

In 1980, we relocated to Philadelphia, PA. Not knowing anyone in our new home, we decided to play bridge at a local bridge club to meet new people and continue to enjoy the game (and, maybe, improve it). Our experience was devastating. People were suspicious of us as newcomers and very nasty. We felt unwelcome and never returned.  I did not play bridge again for almost 30 YEARS!

In 2010, following a divorce and the raising of my children, I decided to give bridge another try. I had pretty much forgotten anything I had ever learned, which was okay, since the rules had changed. I took some classes with a teacher who would become my mentor. I joined with some other classmates in a weekly social game, but I didn’t have the courage to get involved in playing duplicate.  My teacher, Bobbie, encouraged me to do so.  I was delighted to find that the ACBL still had my account and had saved the very few points I had accumulated from 30+ years before.

Fast forward to 2020.  I was still playing social bridge and, occasionally, playing at a tournament.  COVID hit, and, to my horror, my teacher, my mentor, and my friend, Bobbie, died from it at the very beginning.  I was devastated.  I stopped playing bridge for the next 2 years.  I lost my motivation, but I missed the game.

In 2022, I took a few more classes.  None of my friends played bridge, so I joined a club.  I found a new home and new friends.  I am still not the world’s greatest player, but I enjoy playing.  Our club is relaxed and welcoming to all.  After playing in the “come-out-and-play” for close to a year, I “graduated” to the regular duplicate bridge games.  I now play twice a week, and a third time on Bridge Base Online.  I was recently on a trip to Australia, and my partner and I were able to play online!  

I have now earned more points (mostly percentages of a point), but I look forward to playing and am improving my game.