I had occasion recently to get together for a beer with my friend Bill. Bill’s wife, Judy, recently passed away and it was the first chance we had to spend some time together since Judy’s memorial service. Judy was an integral part of the bridge community here in the Eugene-Springfield area and it’s still hard to grasp we will never get to have the pleasure of playing at her table one more time.

Along with the beer, Bill and I shared some stories, a few laughs and, yes, more than a few tears. Spending time with Bill and thinking about Judy caused me to think anew about all the many amazing folks who have come into my life because of bridge. 

Yes, we ostensibly get together to play some number of boards. However, I have come to see that the real value is not the game itself, which is truly more than just a game – an art form really – the real value and benefit are all the folks who have come into my life because of my association with bridge. 

At the Emerald Bridge Club, we have always said that playing bridge was just an excuse for all of us to be able to gather and share time and space. The older I get, the greater my awareness is of the truth of that statement. My wife Sherri and I were commenting the other day on what a huge role the local bridge community plays in our social lives, and what a huge hole would be created if it all suddenly went away. 

Online bridge is great. We are fortunate that it exists. However, nothing takes the place of face-to-face bridge with friends. To keep the local clubs going, we need to ensure that we have players. I encourage every one of you to commit to bringing just one friend to a club game. I am convinced that it is only through a one-on-one contact that we can get new folks into or back to the clubs.  

Yes, there are several “business” items I could share relative to what is going on in the District. But that’s for another column. For now, I encourage all of you to pause for just a moment and consider how much richer your lives are because of bridge, and perhaps consider ways in which you might give something back to the game we all love. 

Be kind and stay safe,

Don Marsh