Minnesota Bridge: A Grand Celebration

A Grand Celebration

The Minneapolis Grand Slam Club had a grand celebration for its first Grand Life Master - your blogmaster, Peggy Kaplan. Kurt Schaeffer has an excellent run down on the evening. Thank you - everyone - so very much for this most special night and celebration .... Not to mention the bridge for almost 30 years! It has been a blast!

A formidable crowd of bridge players turned out on Friday, February 23rd to celebrate the achievement of the first Minnesota Grand Life Master, Peg Kaplan. The festivities were hosted by our resident emcee, Roger Anderson. A quartet of volunteers,Cindy Balderson, Sharon Anderson, Patti Stuhlman and Kerry Holloway, along with a generous donation from the MGSC helped to provide refreshments for all.

The president of Unit 178, Marv Riedesel, warmly welcomed Peg and offered a bridge story reminiscent of David vs. Goliath (though a bit of a stretch to think of Peg as a Philistine). While playing in their first tournament in a KO match against a Kaplan team, Marv and Mary managed to retain 3 IMPS of the 58 IMP handicap at the end of the first half of the match. Never known to give up, they bravely fought back in the second half, eventually losing. (Don't worry, Marv; everyone has lost to her team sometime.)

Roger Anderson resumed his emcee role to share three emails received from friends of Peg. Two former MGSC Goliaths, Howie Weinstein and Steve Garner (both Grand Life Masters, but not while residing in Minnesota) sent their well wishes. Bob Hamman also contributed to the congratulatory stream with a bit of wit.

Finally, Peg got the microphone. She shared how she got hooked early in 1977 when she came away with her first tournament points. Always a tenacious competitor and student of the game, she would frequently be found kibitzing all the top players while not playing. Peg explained how easy it was to give back to the game that has given her so much over the years. And she has - Editor of the Gopher/Viking Bridge News; Blogmaster of the Unit 103/178 Bridge Blog; Editor of the MGSC weekly bridge newsletter - to mention but a few of her endeavors.

Thanks and congratulations, Peg. These accolades are but a small spotlight on the person who is a tremendously gifted and giving Minnesota Bridge personality. One day in the future, a young aspiring bridge player will pick up a February 19th 2007 edition of the Star Tribune and say, "Yes, I know that is Peg Kaplan, but who are the other three guys in the picture?"