Story by Mara Schanfield (BBO: whodeltmrs)

Hello!

For Father’s Day, I’d like to celebrate two longtime friends and devoted bridge buddies, Paul6900 and MandaWhite, who also happen to be my father, Paul, and my godfather, Michael.

Paul and Michael met as sophomores at the University of Minnesota in 1967, forming a friendship that would span decades. Both were accepted into medical school during their junior year and went on to earn their MDs in 1972.

In the midst of long hours and intense study, they found something that grounded them: the game of bridge. While others crammed the night before exams, Paul and Michael gathered around a table in the campus center, finding connection, challenge, and a bit of joy in every hand they played.

Now in their late seventies, retirement has simply given them more time to play bridge, make valiant attempts to teach me (why are there so many rules?!), and take on their friends. When they're playing on BBO against another pair of friends, the experience includes a carefully managed four-way speakerphone call to prevent table talk while still allowing for some lighthearted banter.

Paul and Michael continue the ritual they began decades ago with admirable regularity. Whether sitting across from each other or playing online, they continue to show up for one another, just as they always have. With their long history together, they make a formidable duo, anticipating each other's moves with remarkable ease.

They communicate with precision and trust, sometimes in code and often without saying a word. This quiet understanding reflects a deeper bond built through years of shared experiences, challenges, and friendship.

Beyond their skill at the table, they are both incredibly kindhearted, deeply intelligent, and quick-witted. Their shared sense of humor is unmistakable. They still manage to crack each other up, a reminder that their friendship is rooted not only in respect but also in genuine joy.

To me, they are not only two of the finest doctors I know but also a living example of enduring friendship. I’ve included a "then and now" photo of them as a tribute to a friendship that has truly stood the test of time. The photo tells a story that words can only begin to capture.