Story by Jennifer James (BBO: Daisy90)

As a child my Saturday evenings were spent with my grandmother playing gin rummy while my parents were out on a date. I loved my grandmother and loved cards. One day I was working in London, England and got into an elevator. Lo and behold there was Omar Sharif. It was the early 1970s so he was very recognizable. As soon as the elevator door closed he asked the occupants if any of us played bridge. We all shook our heads. He proceeded to tell us what a wonderful game it was and encouraged us to take it up. I was at the beginning of a very successful career in the film industry with no time for hobbies. A few years later I moved to the US. Always in the back of my mind was "I wonder what this game bridge is all about."

At the age of 47 I retired from Manhattan to a wonderful quiet life in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. I knew no one and decided this would be a good time to try new things and meet some new people. The local high school had evening bridge lessons. Perfect. Except it wasn't so perfect. The teacher was probably a great player but his teaching skills were mediocre at best. The class started with 35 students. After 3 sessions we were down to 8. However I persevered, thanks to Omar's encouraging words almost 30 years before. In the meantime I joined the Newcomers Club and one of the first questions I was asked was "do you play bridge?" Thus began my journey/passion for the game. I played socially, then competitively many times a week, making many wonderful friends along the way.

Life was good. I loved my house, my friends, my tennis, and, of course, my bridge. Then Wham! I had been single for almost 20 years when I received a phone call from one of the ladies I knew through Newcomers. She had a couples bridge group once a month and one of the wives had recently passed away and her husband wanted to continue playing in this group but needed a partner. You can guess where this is going!

Thanks to Omar I met the love of my life to whom I am now married.

We recently moved into a community in Florida where, just like Newcomers, one of the first questions we were asked was "do you play bridge?"

So thank you Grandma, Omar, Suzy (the friend who called me to join the couples group) and my darling Paul. The best partner ever…..well most of the time😉