Very Happy Anniversary

Our friends Fred and Margaret Lerner are having a round number anniversary tomorrow.  We are going over tonight with others to help them celebrate.  I have baked a cake, yes really.  This is a picture of them at the Hawaii NABC a few years ago.  Ray and I went as well and it was a terrific place to visit.  If anyone from the ACBL is ready this my suggestion ..>>> do it again!  Hawaii Ho.  Here is another very nice picture of Margaret from the 2006 Toronto sectional

Fred loves to play in the Canadian Team trials and has played most years.  This is less significant these days since you no longer have to qualify but at one time it was quite a challenge to make the National Final.  Fred is such a versatile bridge player and so friendly that even when he was eliminated he always ended up playing anyway.  Besides Margaret, Fred’s favorite partner was David Lindop in those days and he often plays with the Shoe, Michael Shoenborn.  These days he often plays with his boss Jim Howie in important tournaments.

Margaret mostly just plays with Fred.  Some years ago they modernized their bidding system but for them 4NT is always Blackwood and I believe just recently they converted to the keycard variety.  Oddly  Michael their eldest son was nicknamed Baby Blackwood because of their love for that convention.  none of their four children play bridge although I have always thought that Sean their second son would have been a pretty good bridge player.

Both of them just love to play the game.  We have played together on teams from time to time and some times we have gotten groups together for a home game.  We really should have another one soon.

I can’t remember any specific hands that we played with them.  I am sure Fred will be able to.  I do remember that once when I played with Fred he agreed to play keycard but after years of regular Blackwood he had not fully explored this new convention and he was not familiar with the queen ask.  I teased him about that for a long time.

So here’s to two bridge players who have stayed together for a long time, raised a family together and played a lot of bridge and still love each other very much.  Many more years of happiness and good bridge.