Our bridge club simply doesn’t run without you. It might technically exist, but it would look very different. Fewer chairs. No snacks. Possibly no grilled cheese. And definitely more chaos.

In the rush of closing out a game, adding up scores, answering last-minute questions, and making sure no one accidentally walks off with the bidding boxes, I don’t always stop to say what I should. So let me say it now.

We have a whole cast of characters, and I do mean characters. The kind who quietly stack chairs before I even notice the room is half empty. The kind who show up with food “just because.” The kind who slip a donation into the box and wave off any attention. The kind who help someone to their cars.

You clean the kitchen. You flip grilled cheese sandwiches like short-order cooks in a very competitive diner. You teach classes and welcome new players who are still trying to remember which suit outranks which. You run the boards, collect the money, answer questions, solve problems, and somehow keep smiling.

Some of you even thank me for running the game, usually on days when I’m fairly certain the whole thing is being held together with coffee and determination.

There are also a hundred small things you do that I don’t see. The quiet kindnesses. The quick fixes. The “I’ve got it” moments. I may forget to name them, but I never fail to appreciate them.

I truly could not do this without you. Not even close.

So thank you for your time, your energy, your generosity, your patience, and your good humor. This club works because you show up and make it work.

And because at least one of you always remembers to turn off the lights.  

With great appreciation, Pam