Story by Hilary Bobker (BBO: HilaryB46)
I never intended to disrespect my mother. In fact, I didn’t even realize it had happened. But I get ahead of myself.
Back in 1963—you know, when dinosaurs roamed the earth—my mother decided she would love to play some bridge again. She had been without a partner or a game for many years. Unfortunately, she decided it would be a good idea to teach me and some of my friends how to play. On the face of it, that sounds like a good plan. The mistake was that she taught more than three of us.
It didn’t take long for four of us to start playing without her. We were in high school. Why would we want to play with a “grown-up” when we had a foursome of kids? We would begin playing on Friday after school and continue until curfew. Saturday morning, we would be at it again until curfew. Sunday was the same.
I’m not saying that our grades suffered, but… well, they probably did. We all graduated in 1965 and went on to college, but none of us were valedictorian—just saying. Not that I would ever blame that on our addiction to bridge.
Fast forward many years and countless games later, played with family and friends, to a dry spell. There was no one to play with. Then I met my (second) husband—and he played bridge! I said yes for many reasons, but bridge was close to the top.
We found a bridge club and started to play. We also discovered that the game we learned in high school was not the game being played now, so we took the beginners’ class. We met people in that class who continue to be good friends more than 15 years later.
One might think that should be the end of the story. I mean, I have been playing for over 60 years. I should know how to play, right?
But for the last several years I have been playing on BBO with a very kind mentor. It turns out that I am still learning the game. Sad, really. He is very kind to me. We play the game, then I call him and we go over what I did wrong. He never yells at me. He only says, “Hilary, I believe we have discussed this before.”
There is a place in heaven for him. I just hope there is a game there.
Hilary, your mom also taught us bridge for two,do you remember. Not as intricant as for four, but served when there was only two of us. I remember your mom with great fondness............pat
A wonderful story, graced by your sense of humor, Hilary.
My folks played gin rummy, and so that was my game until post graduate studies where I met a fellow student who was a bridge player. ?Bridge..this is a game?, I thought. b ut under his patient guidance, I learned to the point of entering a tournament and winning 0.1 yes one tenth of a MP, way back in 1965. Sadly it wasn't registered and so, 46 years later, when I resumed play after retirement, I not only had to re-learn the basics as well as 2/1, but faced the 500 point requirement for LM. Well now at 85, and another 12 years I am a bronze LM. And so much still to learn!
Heart warming story.
Need a mentor like yours. 😁
Ravie et rassurée de savoir que même après de nombreuses années de bridge, il y a toujours de quoi être surpris. L'apprentissage est constant. Je joue depuis 4 ans et cette année je me suis découragée en pensant que je n'y arriverais jamais. Vos commentaires m'incitent donc à persévérer. Pour cela un grand merci.
Me----I've been playing for OVER 50!! years-- with a "short" 10 yr drought early on!! AND I'M STILL learning "how" to play this game!!!!
Yeah, I've got over 1900 MP's BUT still have trouble finding my a** from a hole in the ground VERY often!!!
I STILL find Bridge a challenge that BESTS me WAY too often!! AND yes, I'm also a director and a Bridge teacher!! (Basics only, please!!!!) teaching 4th/5th graders this (to me) WONDERFUL learning tool!!
Joe My husband and I played for years with the same couple every Wednesday.Unfortunately My husband became ill with cancer and passed. I have not played since. I know I need to spend some time relearning. where do I start?
I just curious about dinosaurs roamed. It's a literary techniques or others? somebody can reply?
Hi Eason, “Dinosaurs roamed” is modern, informal slang, often used jokingly by younger people to describe very old times or earlier generations. It’s intentionally exaggerated and meant to be humorous, especially from a child’s point of view.
I started playing bridge when I was young and my mother taught me and two neighborhood friends. She taught us so she would have someone to play with. I taught my nephew and we went to my (our) first tournament bridge in a regional and won in the novice group. I was hooked and played tournament bridge for years. I continued to play bridge with my mother for many years.
So many conventions and ways to play. It is a wonderful game. I like the fact that in these modern times, we can go on YouTube and watch many famous players such as Omar Sherif, etc... Thank you for sharing!
Great story Hilary - Your mentor sounds just the ticket.
I wish a mentor like yours. Nice story.
Lovely story. It is such a relatively challenging game, always learning more, yet coming up against challenging hands. What do i do here? A relative newcomer at only 7 years playing.
Very similar to how I started in 193-64. My friend mother wanted to teach us and that was a good way for me to get out of my mother‘s house. I was student teaching and teaching school in January to June one day my friend‘s mother couldn’t do it and we went to Blackwood Bridge studio it was so much fun and we didn’t know what we were doing, but we won the novice game. The reward for winning the novice game was playing in the a flight the next night.
I went on to play tournaments and duplicate clubs and all the cities I lived in my old partner, was an army wife, so she played bridge in officers club, but not at the level that I had learned a few years ago, she moved back to our hometown of Indianapolis, where I hadn’t lived since the 60s. She found somebody who knew my name. She contacted me and told me that she heard I’d really gone on to play in high-level games and she was going to Blackwood Bridge studio the next day. I left my head off as she sent me the pictures of the more deceased women who had been so mean to us in the flight a game. It was really funny and if it weren’t for Cora Goldstein, I never would’ve learned Bridge
I very much enjoyed reading your article thank you, peggy.
Hope you have enjoyed the bridge and the friends made
What a lovely piece. It made me smile and feel reassured at the same time. I’ve often felt like I missed something by only learning bridge recently, but this reminded me that even people who’ve played for decades are still learning. That’s part of what makes the game so special. There’s always more to discover, no matter when you start.
Bravo young lady!! Great story - and i know just what you mean about Mom. Many decades after she first taught me, i had to teach her about point count....
Nice story but what does curfew and valedictorian mean?
You live a blessed life if you don't know! don't ask!
beautyfool story Thank you BBO
Beautyfool story Thank you BBO
Well Hilary - I can just hear you saying all that !
And your kind mentor - what a simply lovely man.
Rico
Hey Rico!
Trust you are well.
See you online!
What a lovely story - it rings so many bells!