Greater
St. Louis Bridge NewsGreater
St. Louis Bridge NewsEditor: Marie Sander, St. Louis MO hatlady@prodigy.net
I sent out a message to several bridge friends, asking them for favorite memories of our annual Mississippi Valley Regional. I had hoped to stimulate interest in the upcoming event by reminding people how much fun we had back in the day. But -- (and you knew there was a but coming) -- what happened then doesn't hold much water now. We must now work and play in the here and now, of course.
The Regional is one of the crowing jewels in the world of bridge in St. Louis. I encourage you to take full advantage of it, and make every effort to have a great time. Here are some suggestions to make this year shine:
1. Eat at one really nice place, at least once, with people you enjoy.
2. Over dress for one day (big surprise coming from me).
3. Play in a new event.
4. Call a bridge friend you haven't seen lately and invite him or her to the Regional.
5. Clean up your area throughout the day. Maybe throwing away cups can become a habit.
6. Ask a board member what you can do to help.
7. Fill up the week. If you have an open day, consider a trip to the partnership desk. This is your one chance a year to gorge yourself on bridge.
8. Congratulate a winner.
9. Do not be the one we all remember as the jerk to be avoided at all costs.
10. Write your results on the hand record and thoroughly dissect every hand over dinner. I love to watch other diners wonder what in the world those bridge people are talking about.
11. Eat ice cream, hot dogs and pizza after the evening session. And of course, clean up after yourself.
Here are some items that you should avoid doing in order to have a really good time.
1. Do not wear spike heels and park on the upper level when it's raining. Getting down took some doing, and the only good thing is no one saw me. Of course, the bad thing is no one saw my SOS and got me down.
2. Do not pump petrol and wash your windshield, then rearrange your chapeau without washing your hands. Sixty-five bucks down the drain.
3. Do not have a spat with your nearest and dearest on the way to the tourney. Makes for a really, really long day.
4. Do not tuck your dress up in the back of your panty hose. I have never actually done this, but it is a good principal to observe. There is no male equivalent.
5. That third cocktail at dinner. A mistake.
6. Don't go to your room and close your eyes for just a minute. The picture presented upon your hasty arrival will be stuck in our minds eye for the rest of the week.
7. Do not pick the dinner break to ask for a loan, a divorce or the return of your car keys, house key or engagement ring. Those of us at the dinner table will soak it up like a sponge and dine out on the story for the rest of the year.
Everyone have a real good time and I'll see you at the table. Y'all play nice
now,
-- Marie