When I met my husband, Doug McCalla (BBO: Diamond Dug) six years ago, he was well past life master and had over 1000 points. I had never even heard of the game called bridge. As our relationship grew we decided we would begin doing things that each of us enjoyed. I began learning the bridge game that he loved. Doug started learning ballroom dance, which was my passion.
All I knew of bridge was watching a bunch of seemingly older people play every week in the club room of the condos where I lived, while I watched relaxing in the pool wondering why they kept playing. They never smiled and didn’t seem to be having the least bit of fun! A year or so later I was playing at the bridge table in that very same room looking out at the pool longingly. Well, I have to say that bridge was a lot more difficult to learn than ballroom dance, but I have a great leader in both.
I decided to take what was announced as a beginner lesson class from Loring Harkness. I quickly learned I was in over my head. Most of my fellow students had actually played for years, and I didn’t have a clue what all the jargon they spoke meant at all. The fact that I had very little short term memory due to a life threatening injury played havoc and caused great frustration as I kept drudging along. I had to learn and relearn most every day. My neurologist told me that I would never be able to do it. Never tell me never. I TOOK THAT ON AS A CHALLENGE. The Doctor also told me that if I did it would be the best thing I could do for my brain.
As the first year progressed I created a color-coded, trifold study aid that helped greatly. I looked at it before every game and on breaks. Even though that year went pretty well. I was aware that it was futile without my hubby not only being my teacher, but also my partner at the table. We started using only the conventions that he preferred to play so I didn’t have to relearn anything later. We played 3 times a week most weeks and went over the bridge boards after. It was a lot for me, and sometimes frustrating and overwhelming, but greatly paid off.
At the first table of my first tournament at the Prince Hotel in Honolulu, he actually sat down and dared to say “let me show you this new convention real quick”. You don’t want to know my response! No that conversation was never finished and never occurred again. Later at that same tournament when he went to respond to my bid, he held his bid in the air for a very long time with a look of horror on his face – and then finally bid. He knew by the blank look on my face that I had completely checked out and he was on his own. The rest is a blurr. But I did survive to laugh about it later, much later.
We progressed in learning more and more conventions. Sometimes it went from horrifying to somewhat fun. We gradually gained more and more points, but Life Master didn’t seem to be a realistic goal with my background.
We then began teaming up with our good friends Ann and Joe Williams on Swiss teams at tournaments, which was fun. Eventually we all went on a Larry Cohen bridge cruise to Brazil where we attained the rest of our gold points, and the Williams both achieved Life Master. Congratulations to our dear friends.
Doug and I are known for bidding 10 of every seven slams. We developed what we refer to as the McCalla Slam; shh it’s a secret. In trying to teach it to our Swiss partners; Ann thought we said McCalla Scam, so of course that’s what we lovingly call it now.
I began kibitzing Doug in St Croix American Virgin Islands; with all his conventions on. That was a waste of time, and I just went to the beach instead. I have always been really good at games, but man that made no sense of course. We have played in tournaments in every state we have traveled to, and on cruises to exotic places. It is a great way to meet some amazing people most of which are very nice, and interesting.
We played at a tournament in Florida; where Doug recognized our opponents as a pair that had 20-30 thousand points. It was wisdom that he didn’t share that knowledge with me until later. We creamed them. Hallelujah. What other sport can you play in head to head competition with world class players and actually beat them?
We have played at the table with professional players, most nice and some rude. Personally, I don’t take rude, and called the director on one. Both he and the director were surprised I dare do such a thing. Think his partner as well as mine had their mouths open a bit, but he was a bit too big for his britches and needed to come down to reality and be polite.
As a side note most people are polite and stop bantering and badgering their partner about the past hand when asked nicely to stop, and if they don’t, let’s all stand up and do something about it! In a live game it is time to practice what you’ve already learned, and lesson time is later. I have known some less experienced players that have lost the desire to play because of bad behavior, and there is no need for that. Let’s all have fun at the table!
When Covid hit I had a small stroke causing a fall and breaking my back. Playing bridge online was a Godsend to reestablish the brain patterns again and help focus on positive things, as well as attaining quite a bit of black points. As the chaplain of a large rehab hospital and overseeing the Alzheimer’s unit, I know how important it is to keep the brain functioning well, especially as we age and after trauma. So keep on playing, your brain will thank you later!
In conclusion:
If you are considering starting your journey in learning bridge or are at any stage of the process, JUST GO FOR IT! You will be proud of the accomplishments along the way and it’s a great way to meet people around the world. Relax and enjoy it. After all it’s just a game.
Well that’s what I said when I finally got my Life Master at a sectional in Honolulu last July. Afterwards Doug said “now it’s time to learn 2 over 1…whew.
Well maybe it never ends. But if we treat our partners as gold as we go for the gold, all is well.
Blessings,
Linda Kaye McCalla
