Are We Having Fun Yet?!

In a recent survey in the United Kingdom on life satisfaction, the middle ages, i.e., 40-54 years of age, tended to be the most depressing.  The seniors over 65, on the other hand,  rated 7.8 out 10 on the life satisfaction scale.  Similar studies in the U.S. had similar results.  So, baby boomers, we are a pretty happy bunch!

Of course, it helps to have enough money and to be relatively healthy, but after a week of playing in a regional bridge tournament, I’m having serious second thoughts about our age group.  Playing bridge is a passion for BH and me.  It’s something that brought us together and keeps us bonded.  It’s a way for us to travel around the country and stay in great hotels for el cheapo costs.

We love, love, love the game and hope that it’s staving off a descent into dementia.  Most of the people who are also playing are our age or older.  I mean, who else has the time to play a 3 hour bridge session multiple times a week?

Unfortunately, bridge players are classic whiners and some of the most boorish people I’ve ever met.  Gratitude is a rarity.  Personally, I especially like playing in Florida tournaments where all players are provided coffee and orange juice all day long in addition to continental breakfasts all week long.

Not enough.  The coffee’s too strong, the bagels aren't toasted, the cream cheese has too much fat, the cream for the coffee isn’t liquid.  That on top of the rooms are too cold, the cards are too old, the hotel has terrible service, the food is too expensive or below par.  Ya just can’t please these people.

In this Knock Out event, our team with a mere 5000 points was playing a team with over 100000 points.  You know, one of those lambs going to slaughter matches as in ‘why did we spend our money to play!?’    Yet, we were playing pretty well.  Any expert will tell you the team that wins makes the least mistakes.  There is almost zero chance of playing a mistake-free game.  After the first half, we were beating them by 48 points.

And they were furious!  At one point, we were playing and my partner was waiting for one of our opponents to turn over his card so he could proceed. So, he politely asked him to turn over his card.  “You can’t tell me what to do!” he shouts loud enough for the entire room to turn in our direction.

Sad to say, we lost that match by 2 points.  What I would’ve given to win that match!!!  I will say, though, that I look forward to our next challenge on that level.

But, really, can you beat that guy?!  Mr. You Can’t Tell Me What To Do??!!  This is why there’s supposed to be zero tolerance for rude behavior in the bridge world but boors still abound.

I look at the players in their 90s who play hooked up to their oxygen machines, those in wheel chairs who can barely hold the cards, the personal aides who stand by patiently.  Some of them play so impossibly slow, BH could run a mile before they took a card out of their hand.  There are some players who must’ve smoked seven packs of cigarettes a day; they sound like frogs when they attempt to speak.  God bless them.  There but for the grace of God....

There’s a rhythm to the game.  BH and I abhor slow play….it totally throws us off.  Can’t remember what’s been played if the play is agonizingly slow.  And, then, I start getting testy and my bad attitude materializes.  Is boorishness contagious??

That’s when BH takes me aside and gives me a gentle reminder.  I calm down and remind myself that I don’t want to turn into Mr. You Can’t Tell Me What To Do.

it’s a game.  Are we having fun yet?!