Bridge for Love and Life
Story by Gord McLure (BBO: elgordo1) Our bridge story begins in 1966 when I prop...
My father learned the game in 1945. That year, he graduated with a degree in English from Central University of China and found a job as a translator for the U.S. Information Service Agency in Chongqing, the wartime capital of China during WWII. He learned to play rubber bridge from the American military personnel in the agency. From 1947 to 1949, he was a special correspondent for the newspaper Shanghai News in Nanking, the capital city of China after WWII. His job was to report daily news announcements in Nanking. During waiting times at the press office, he played bridge with other journalists from around the world who were also waiting there.
Growing up in China, bridge playing time at our home was treasured holiday time. It usually happened after a sumptuous meal cooked by Mother. Then she would put a nice blanket on our square wooden table; my brothers and I would put on our best behavior and all sit seriously at the table. Father was the king at the table. The way he called for an “Ace,” in English with a little American accent, still echoes in my ears! The five of us rotated to play at the table. I asked Father what to do whenever I didn’t know what to do. I did not understand much about conventions or scoring, but Father instilled in me some card sense and manners at the table.
Then came the political turmoil in China in the 60s and 70s. My father was locked up and we were sent far away for “re-education” during the “Cultural Revolution”. I remember the last time we played bridge at home. It was a weekend and my mother had been ill for sometime. Father was allowed to come home for a visit, my oldest brother and I managed to come home from our re-education villages for a family reunion. By this time, we were forced by the Red Guards to relocate to live in two very small rooms and no longer had our wooden square table. We played on a small round table, sitting on stools. As you can see in the picture, mother still put on a table cloth for the occasion. It was one of the sweetest times we were together.
Father taught me the meaning of “bridge”. In Chinese, the character is “橋”. A 橋 connects two places together, especially cross a river or a valley. In the game of bridge, a 橋 connects cards in your hand with the cards on the table. You should always remember to build a 橋 and keep it open so you can walk back and forth smoothly.
New teachers I run into these days use the word “transportation”. I prefer my father’s explanation because it is more closely linked to the “bridge” experience.
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Very nice story and memory of your family! Warm Wishes!
From China too...
i study bridge card in college.
It is one of free-choose classes we can study.
Very interesting.
Now it is the only one useful tools of 10+ class i ever chosen.
A lovely family story of how connection is so important in life as well as bridge
what a lovely uplifting story how bridge was such a joy for you and your family through do many troubled times. I loved reading it, thank you
What a sweet, wonderful story!
Yan, Thank you for sharing your beautiful story of your loving family, your joys, heartaches, and connections made while learning the great game of bridge.
Beautiful story. I too learnt bridge at a family table but in nothing like those circumstances. The symbolism enriches my pleasure in the game. Thank you
What a lovely, poetic and moving story!
Thank you for reminding us all of the meaning of "bridge." Communicating across perceived barriers and experiencing our commonalities is always a moving event and one that lives in memory.
Fascinating story of the wonderful Chinese family
Agree completely - it's a bridge between two partners against opposing players.
Beautiful and heartwarming.
Thanks so much for sharing.
I played last night with my near 90-year old parents and boyfriend.
We try to get together once a week for dinner and bridge.
The highlight of my week.
Lovely story of a “bridge” for a family.
This is just beautiful. Thank you for sharing your intimate details of family and bridge. I really appreciate it.
What a heart warming story! Also a bridge also between cultures and generations. Thanks for sharing your story.
I so enjoyed reading this story. My mother enjoyed bridge as do I. During WW2 she went to work in "Chungking" with an association whose main purpose was helping the "allies" in the war against Japan.
I was born in Singapore and spent holidays in Malaysia and Hong Kong and then after marriage to an army officer who became an attache for a short while bridge was a wonderful asset for meeting new people and often fund raising for charities.
What a wonderful story. Thank for sharing. I must teach bridge to members of my family.
Great story, where do you live now and do you play online in BBO my screen name is keppler765
Oh,Yan! What a beautiful, painful remembrance! Thank you for sharing these bittersweet memories with us.
This is really a love story with Bridge as one of the connectors of this family who suffered, as untold numbers of citizens did during that era of madness. I was left wanting more-to know who survived, and what the writer and his brothers are doing now and whether Bridge is still a part of their modern lives.
Lovely and inspiring story ! Very nice explanation of the meaning of “bridge”
Thank you !!!