The Minutes – November 13, 2008
Prizes for Dummy
“Hello.”
“Hi
Anne, Barb here and I want to ask you to play a game of bridge with Joni, Gail
and me. We’ll play a few games and then
we could play for the QEH fundraiser.”
“WHAT?”
“I
have spoken with Gail and Joni and they say they’ll play if you will.”
“Oh
no, I only played at Senior’s College a few times and then before that is was
over 30 years ago.”
“Perfect,
then that is a yes.”
“Ah,
well I guess if Joni said yes……
“Great,
come to my place next Monday at 10:00am and we’ll have a few hands, go over
some rules and have some fun.”
When
I see Joni I’m going to ask her if she has lost her mind, then I’m going to
kill her.
Monday
rolls around and Joni picks me up and we motor out to the Holt
Our
Hostess fills us with coffee, nuts and other munchies as she and Gail share
their knowledge of bridge with me and Joni.
That is almost impossible because the game of Bridge has more rules than
stars in the sky. Every rule can change
and knowing the rules is a full time job and even those that have played for
years have not mastered this insidious game.
How am I ever going to remember what cards have been played let alone
what is trump. Oh my God, what am I
doing here? I decide I’ll just try and
be the Dummy! Yes a role I was meant to
play. I think Joni wanted this coveted
position but I was born to be the Dummy.
We
began playing and much to the delight of all we we’re having a lot of fun. Laughter appeared to be the main focus. With Ralph Kennedy’s rules at hand, we were
playing bridge. Who woulda thunk it?
We
ate, laughed, drank, laughed some more and actually played a little
bridge. The main stumbling block seemed
to be that fact and no one could remember who dealt last. Another problem was this fund raiser for the
QEH where we would have to play with 20 other tables. All the people at these tables would be
bridge players extraordinaire, and then there would be Joni and I, the
non-players.
Barb
assured us that we would definitely play with each other and that we would not
have to play with anyone else. It was
decided we would practice next week at Gail’s.
With
our rules in hand we arrived at Gail’s ready for another few rounds of
bridge. Once again the coffee/pop,
munchies, and many rules were laid out on the table and we began to play. Joni and I were doing more bidding, playing
and still able to laugh. All is well
except when the Fox Meadows is mentioned for our
Gail
sets the bar high when she brings out a plate of delicious chicken salad
sandwiches and more drinks. Hmm this
bridge thing isn’t all bad.
Then
the fateful day arrives. We are off to
Barb’s for a morning of bridge before the Fox Meadow Fund Raiser. Joni and I are worried and hope that Imodium
is not required for the nerves. That little
devil Joni brings us all a gift purchased in the
We devour the bridge mixture and nuts, drink
coffee and hope the time doesn’t go too fast.
Barb, not to be outdone by Gail, brings out three trays of various
sandwiches and pickles. Nerves are
getting best of me and what do I do when I’m nervous, I eat? Of course I eat when I’m happy also, nothing
new here. Yikes it is time to leave for
Fox Meadows.
When
we arrive we see several people we know as we search for a table. We are asked to have our dessert and the
ladies outdid themselves, the desserts were absolutely delightful. The first order of business was the draw for
the fifty-fifty and Barb was the winner.
She shared the loot, so the day was beginning to look very
promising. Then we heard a bell stating
it was time to begin. After hearing the
rules it was time to deal and bid.
There
were some bumps along the way when I forgot how to lay down the cards. Then I could not remember where to put the
bloody cards after I shuffled them. I
knew at Barb’s but at Fox Meadows I seemed to forget a lot of things. Whose turn is it deal, did I play from my
hand or the board, but worst of all, I took the bid and forgot what was
trump. Jeez Louise! Oh yeah, a few times when laying down my
cards, I had them all mixed up.
Sometimes we laughed so hard we could hardly see the cards. What fun!
The
day is winding down and it is time for prizes.
We were no where near the leaders in terms of high score, but low score
was ours. When they asked who was low
the girls said, don’t tell. Well if
there was a prize involved I was going to get it. I told Sybil Cutcliffe we were the low table
and proud of it. Next there was a prize
for the person at each table who had the highest score. Don’t ask me how it happened but I had the
high score. I could hardly walk after
all that sitting, but I hobbled up to the table to claim my prize. Why now I had two prizes and some money. I’m thinkin’ I just may take up this game
professionally. Money, prizes, presents,
this is the good life. I just may stay
in this for the long haul.
