Bridge World

I’m writing this from the Marina Hilton in Ft. Lauderdale, site of this week’s regional bridge tournament.  Early April, temperature in the low 80’s, easy breezes, passing yachts to die for....although boats, in my opinion, are way too much work to ever be worth it.  Unless, of course, you’re rich enough to hire that out.  It appears to me they’re all over the top rich here...no one’s working on their boats.

There are thousands of people competing this week.  The American Contract Bridge League has over 150,000 members....most of them over the age of 50.  Bill Gates, an avid player, and Warren Buffett, one of his bridge partners, have ponied up God knows how much money to teach young people the game, since it’s just not a major part of our culture anymore.

I grew up in the South where women generally didn’t work outside the home and played ‘party’ bridge regularly.  My mother didn’t play but my grandmother and aunt did.  In fact, my grandparents hosted bridge weekly when they were young marrieds.  I learned how to play with my boyfriend at our youth minister’s home in Orlando.  I was 16 and from that point on, it was a passion for me.  I have no idea how I graduated from college, playing bridge far more frequently than attending classes.

And, then, life happened.  Career, raising kids...who has time to play cards?  I had a husband who had no interest in learning....nor did my kids, who are math whizzes, a plus for any bridge player.  I didn’t play for almost 25 years.

Life changed.  The kids grew up; I became a widow.  I was introduced to duplicate bridge which morphed into tournaments, playing with multiple partners until I found the perfect match...my guy, Buff Honey.

The Bridge World is dominated by men at the top of the game, and by women in the middle to lower ranks.  Many of them are single...either widowed or divorced.  And they’re looking to change their status.  It’s true.  I know because I was one of them.

You can find a great guy in this world.  They’re smart, nerdy and, occasionally, fun and good looking.  I hit the mother lode with my partner.

When we play two women, often they come to the table and size my partner up immediately.  They’re extra friendly to him, they look at my ring finger and his ring finger and carry on like I’m not even sitting there.  I’m just waiting for the inevitable.

“Are you two married?”

Happened yesterday and has happened several times before.  He is just absolutely clueless.  He has no idea they’ve been flirting with him for twenty minutes.  I kid you not.

“Why do you ask,?” I respond.

“Just wondering.”

Really???  You’re wondering if he’s available?  He’s not.  He’s the truest, bluest guy on the planet and he’s perfectly happy where he’s sitting.  Now, he’s thinking you’re rude  to ask that question and he’s inspired to beat your bridge butt.

And, I’m thinking...”What did they look like before they had all that work done?”