Story by Paul Johnson (BBO: machiasme)

First of all, in my previous note to directors, I’d like to change “state’s initials” to “state’s abbreviation.”

This all happened five years ago. My wife, Susan, and I are from Maine, and we set ourselves a fun challenge. We wanted to play at as many online ACBL clubs as we could, meeting people from all over and discovering new bridge communities. As we traveled from club to club on the internet, we found that Vancouver Bridge in British Columbia was the club we connected with the best. Director Shelley Burns gave us her phone number, and Susan still has it in her cell phone today. After the first match, when we explained what we were up to, Shelley even called us a few times to let us know they had an odd number of entries. We would hurry online and join their game.

We faced some unusual challenges. Many clubs identified themselves only by a number or a name that did not include their town or state. We often had to Google the identifier just to learn where we were playing. Back then ACBL had rules limiting how many players could be from outside the specific club. If that percentage had already been reached, we simply had to try again another day. In spite of those obstacles, the experience was worth every moment.

During the waiting periods, after we finished our hands and were waiting for other tables to complete their boards, I started typing snippets of Maine trivia or little stories into the chat, simply to entertain our partners and opponents. Sometimes I asked a question first, gave them a moment to think, and then typed the answer. For example, I would ask what East Coast state lies closest to Africa, and then reveal that it is my state, Maine. I would mention that Maine is the only one syllable state, and also the only state that borders just one other state, New Hampshire. I would share that Prohibition started when Maine outlawed drinking alcohol, so perhaps bootlegging started in Maine too. I would ask for the easternmost point in the lower 48 states and then explain that it is called West Quoddy Head. East Quoddy Head is across the bay in Canada. People seemed to enjoy the surprises, like learning that Canada has more lakes than all other countries combined. Or that in Eastport, Maine, the difference between high and low tide is 18.4 feet twice a day, and that we even have a whirlpool. I would ask which town in Maine calls itself the Blueberry Capital of the World, and then reveal Cherryfield. I would tell them that the first naval battle of the American Revolution was fought in Machias, Maine.

Sharing pieces of home helped us feel closer to the people at our tables, even though we were all far apart.

I have collected many stories from bridge over the years. One of my favorites is from when my granddaughter was a preschooler and watched me shuffle a deck of cards. I thought I would teach her the four suits. After naming three of them, I held up the nine of hearts and asked if she knew what suit it was. She proudly announced that those were Valentines. I now have a favorite new suit.

Another story is from the nine wonderful years I played MSN Bridge with a lady named Laura from the Netherlands. She spoke six languages quite fluently, and her favorite singer was Frank Sinatra. I burned two copies of three homemade Sinatra CDs and mailed her a set. We would count down three, two, one and start the music together, listening to the same songs at the same time while we played bridge on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Her life was not easy and the second time she died the doctors could not bring her back. I still think of her whenever I hear Sinatra.

One of the most brilliant plays I have ever seen was hers. She held the queen and ten of diamonds, and my dummy held the ace, jack, and two small diamonds. From the bidding our right hand opponent should have held the king, so the finesse would lose and we would go down one. Laura pulled trump and without the slightest pause she led the queen to the ace, then returned a low diamond. I thought she was just giving up the trick but it was our opponent who hesitated. Laura had played it so smoothly that it looked as though she intended to ruff the small diamond and set up the jack if the king fell. The opponent followed low and Laura won the ten. Laura wins the ten. Laura wins the ten. I still smile remembering that moment.

Whenever I must apologize for slow play, I tell the table that my house is in flames and the fire department keeps dragging me back outside. So if I play slowly, it is not my fault.

And here is a more recent memory. Susan and I were playing at the Bangor club. She opened one spade. My right hand opponent overcalled two clubs, and I passed. The next opponent thought her partner had opened two clubs, so with two little diamonds she bid two diamonds waiting. Susan bid two hearts. The club bidder thought her partner had diamonds, so she raised with three little diamonds, and they played the contract in diamonds. We took all thirteen tricks on defense. Gotta love bridge. I have pasted this story into the chat box and met players who have either done the same or know of someone who has.

All of the directors and players were very welcoming to us. Their friendliness inspired us to keep going.