I usually look forward to
the STaC (Sectional Tournament at the Clubs), but not this time.
First of all, for us
working stiffs, it’s a brutal schedule. Up before 8:30 a.m. to make the 10 a.m.
start on time at the Airport Bridge Club (missed it by a minute Monday morning
and paid a $1 penalty). Head straight to work afterward, arriving an hour past my
scheduled 4 p.m. start on Monday. Repeat Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday and
Friday I get a break. I’m off work.
And then I come down with
a cold Sunday night and start pumping decongestants. Am I still blowing my nose
anyway? Am I groggy around the edges? Am I miserable? Yes, yes, and yes.
This doesn’t even take
into consideration that it’s a late spring and there’s gardening to do. No
chance of that at all till next Sunday. Only consolation is that it’s going to rain
most of the week.
So I’m in no shape to take
up the challenge Monday with Judie Bailey, who didn’t realize it started at 10
a.m. and arrives late. Somehow, we scrape together a 49.58% game, which miraculously
gives us second place in the B strat North-South, 0.69 of a silver point.
In the afternoon, I’m
flagging, I’m anxious because the game is running late and Judie is bailing out
at 3 p.m. for a medical appointment. However, in walks the estimable Tom Fraas,
freshly back from many months in Florida. He sits down across from me halfway through the game.
We get crappy cards,
though, in this six-table Howell movement and we seem to be playing dismally, although we do manage to bid and make a 6 Spade slam. Imagine
my surprise to hear our names announced at the end. It’s 55.73%, fourth
overall, second in B, 0.88 of a silver point. Already I’ve doubled my winnings
for the month. Guess I’ll take some more decongestants and set my alarm a few
minutes earlier for Tuesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment