A few hours into my first day at a new job in a new city in 2011, I took a break to eat in the company lunchroom, choosing a seat at an empty table near four colleagues at another table.
I bit into my sandwich and started reading my book, but kept getting distracted watching this foursome toss out cards in tandem with fluid discussions ranging from the NFL lockout to whether cell phones were contributing to the decline in honeybee population.
One of my coworkers who had stopped playing for some reason (I later learned she was the dummy for that hand!) noticed me and asked a single question that led to one of those moments in life that you don’t realize is significant until you reflect back on it much later…
“Have you ever played bridge before?”
I told her that I wasn’t familiar with the game, but that I really loved playing cards. I grew up in northwest Ohio/southeast Michigan where indoor recess meant an hour-long euchre game. Family gatherings often ended with the grandparents playing Oh Hell! or Golf with their grandkids, and a deck of cards was always a staple in any suitcase headed for vacation.
“Good,” she said smiling. “We can teach you.”
I’m pretty sure none of my new Chicago colleagues even knew my name at that point, but that seemed less important to them than my interest and willingness to join the long-standing tradition of lunchtime bridge play at World Book (yes, “the encyclopedia company” that is very much still around, hence the lively lunchtime academic debates!).
At the time, I was 28 years old and didn’t know anyone my age who played bridge. But my colleagues’ enthusiasm and commitment to promoting the game was infectious, so I agreed to participate in six hour-long lunchtime training sessions from “Professor Finesse,” a very patient colleague whose nickname came from two of his passions: teaching and bridge.
Almost immediately, I was willingly indoctrinated into this four-suited, black-and-red world, and played as much as my lunchtime schedule would permit. Taking a break from work to just eat or read a book was never as thrilling as making a slam with a finesse or – let’s be honest here – successfully recognizing cue bids and responding correctly in those early learning days. And my colleagues’ willingness and eagerness to spend time with me to teach me the intricacies of the game made me feel right at home in both my new company and this newfound pocket of devout bridge players.
It’s now been almost 15 years since my bridge meet-cute, and some of those strangers are now my bridge teammates and very close friends, largely thanks to this complex, challenging, frustrating, and thrilling card game. Though we no longer work together, we have found a bridge home at the Lawson Bridge Studio in Chicago with pregaming at Cheesie’s Pub across the street on any Mittwoch evening that I can carve out a few hours away from adulting and momming to spend time on my favorite hobby with some of my favorite people. You know who you are, you good-looking young bridge players!
How did you discover bridge and make your bridge friends? We'd love to hear your story—share it with us below! 😉
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Over 50 years ago, I married my now-ex-husband and he started teaching me card games. From cribbage through bridge, he would teach me and when I could beat him, we’d move on to a new game. We had no one to play bridge with, so my education was incomplete. A few years later, I saw a notice from a local community college which was starting a bridge class. I took it, fell in love, and the rest is history!
Although I took a 30-year hiatus while raising children and starting a business, I’m back to playing regularly. It is my life’s passion and I am grateful for the online ease of playing in this modern age!
Hello! Yes, bridge is a very exciting game. All the best, dear friends!
It was interesting to read your story and now I want to play
Bridge with someone.
Could you kindly take me to a table , my name is Shirin.
I love your story thank you very much for sharing.
Thanks Peggy! I’m so happy to have found this game!
I feel exactly the same Erika, it's such a beautiful game so exciting challenging social play anywhere in the world no language barrier, perfect best wishes peggy x
We used to play at school during lunch. Whoever got there first dealt the cards and as were filtered in we took a seat and ate and played! Non bridge players were amazed at our dedication. Good memories of those days.
Love this! Non-bridge players will never understand lol!
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