I, Peggy Bundy, the Hitt Lady, Mr Mollo - or - whatever today's players wish to call me - learned to play bridge (well, some might call it that!) when I arrived at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. My second year at college got me playing both on campus and in the math department (where I was first introduced to bridge.) I played all sorts of card games - and only a bit of bridge. Ultimately, I went from UW to grad school at U of MN to study philosophy, which fascinated me.
A relative of my then husband lived in White Bear Lake and he enticed me to play. While I really was pretty much a beginner, I still liked the game, and would get in a couple games each month. I might have continued on, not knowing very much and heading Up North, until I met my boss at Dayton Hudson Corporation - Cindy Balderson. Cindy was recently divorced with a little girl - delightful to have as my partner at DHC - and knew bridge! I encouraged her to begin playing again - she agreed - and we were off to the races!
Needless to say, bridge was very different in those days in contrast to now. Though frankly; so much has happened in our world in the last two years, nothing could compare to today! And - this is a lot of why I want to communicate with all of our players.
Bridge truly is the greatest game. Whether you are a super star, someone who plays now and then - or who enjoys bridge at home with friends - bridge is wonderful. Yet I worry that unless we do more for our game, we may find that one day, there IS no bridge!
I do not want that to happen - and I'm betting that many of us who still play feel as I do. Yet, unless we do our best to promote bridge, we may find it falling by the wayside .... This would be a loss of a treasure. So, I am hoping that many of you will decide to return to our game (if you haven't been playing) - or - will encourage others to learn and take it up if you know people who might become intrigued.
I plan to post stories from the past, present and perhaps the future. I don't know if we will ever return to regionals that took up just about every inch of space in the Radisson - but by golly - if we can do that, I'd be thrilled! And - if any of our players have stories to tell themselves - be they hysterically amusing, tragic tears of close loss - or wins that sent you into outer space you were so thrilled - I want you to share with others!
Please feel free to contact me, other friends - whatever will beef up The Greatest Game! Bridge is too much of a gift to lose it - and I thank all of you in advance for doing what you can to return it to a new luster!
Thanks!!
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