THE BRIDGE GAME
"...There be that can pack the cards and yet cannot play well..."
Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
Sitting here in the February warmth of the Arizona Valley of the Sun, for a week's respite from the Rochester snowstorms, my memories are energized once again as I think back to 1966, 51 years ago, when I had my whole life ahead of me and many decisions to make. It was the Senior year of college, Spring was approaching rapidly, and I had no plans or particular ambitions, only to know I was enamoured by this blonde young woman from Cherry Valley, New York!
After that first sighting in Buck and Red’s Rendezvous, I still had not actually met her! One day, I was sitting in the University Center with some friends and noted her across the room, playing bridge with some other young women. I saw one of them get up and leave, probably to go to a class, when Suzanne stood up and called out if anyone would like to join them. This was my big opportunity and I was not about to let it pass! I quickly volunteered with some trepidation because I had never before played bridge in my life nor did I even understand the game. The first go-round I survived by saying “pass” each time they got to me and ended up being the dummy, appropriately. However, during the next round of bidding, I gave myself away as Suzanne stood up and said, “You’ve never played bridge before, have you?”. I sheepishly admitted to my crime and said, “I just wanted to meet you! Would you like to have coffee with me?” She laughed and agreed. I cannot really remember what happened next but I asked her for a date and after a few of these, we got to like each other.
I knew she had a few other admirers and, in particular, one football player who was quite a bit brawnier than I was. One night as I was walking Suzanne back to her dorm, he...I’ll call him Joe...was coming out of the dorm and, as we walked passed, I felt his muscular elbow brush heavily along my rib cage. After saying good night, I looked outside and saw Big Joe mulling about waiting for me. Feeling in imminent danger for my short life, I looked across the dorm alcove only to see my fraternity brother, Gary, exiting at the same time. I told him I would buy him a beer which he readily agreed to...so Gary and I walked out together. Joe took one look, turned around and left. You see, Gary was also a varsity hockey player known as “Cruncher”, for obvious reasons. He went on to play many successful seasons in the National Hockey League...so, just as I had saved Sydney Poitier’s life, Gary “saved” mine. Years later when I was doing my Residency in Ohio, I went to see “Cruncher” in an NHL game and got to chat with him.
Suzanne and I continued to date and, in February, she invited me home to meet her parents. A city boy, here I was about to head to a dairy farm in the country, with a dance on the agenda for the weekend which, by the way, turned out to be one of the snowiest weekends New York State had seen in decades. Having no car, I prevailed on my friend, Nan Griffin, to lend me her trendy little Peugeot 403. As we headed off for Cherry Valley, the weather worsened. I already knew Suzanne’s brother, Frank, who also attended St.Lawrence, but was looking forward to meeting the rest of the family.
Cherry Valley is a very scenic part of the state, with rolling hills surrounding a charming old historic village in the valley. The village was know for the famed massacre in 1778. The farm was on the outskirts, with Holstein cows and land as far as the eye could see at least for me. Sue’s dad had the formal name of Glenn Oscar but went by the moniker of “Tex”, her mom being Mary Margaret or “Peg”. Their farm was Peglen Farm! Tex was a Cornell graduate having been schooled in all things agricultural at the famed Ag school. Peg, herself, had gone to St. Lawrence on a scholarship which she later gave to her sister Mim after 3 years, as she left to go to work for Owen D Young, founder of General Electric and friend of FDR. Peg’s dad had been the herd manager for Mr. Young at his gentleman’s farm in Van Hornesville. Tex descended from early German and English farmers who settled the Mohawk Valley in the 1800’s. Peg, herself, was a Hoosier from Indiana with lines back to the 1600’s in Massachusetts and Vermont, Revolutionary War officers and the granddaughter of the Chancellor of Syracuse University.
The Blumenstock's were delightful folks including brothers Frank and younger brother John. I was told to bring a suit and tie to the dance so I had pulled one out of my dorm closet before leaving campus. It was to be a somewhat formal affair! After a nice dinner which was finished off by Peg's Red Raspberry Pudding (to this day, still my favorite!), we were ready to go off to to Cooperstown.
Tex suggested we go in separate cars which I readily agreed to...however, his idea was that I was to go with him and Suzanne with her mother! Tex drove with me in the front passenger seat, the car slowly wending its way through the deep snow made worse by the dark night and the inadequate windshield wipers. We made small talk for a while and then, Tex turned to me and asked, "What are your intentions with my daughter?" I was ready to jump out of the car into the snowy abyss. I really didn't know what to say but I managed a weak "I'm very fond of her and if things go well between us...". He then brought up the 200 pound elephant in the car when he addressed the difference in our religions! He said he didn't care what my faith was as long as I loved and treated his daughter well. The rest of the ride was pleasant and we arrived safely in Cooperstown at the Fenimore Ball (which is where the Fenimore Museum is today). It was quite the soiree with formal dress and an orchestra. It was a grand time and Suzanne looked beautiful in a black and white checked cocktail dress which still hangs in our closet today. This "city mouse" certainly had a new impression about "country mice"!
It was a memorable weekend. On the way back to Canton, the snow was so bad that the wipers had quit working. We found ourselves in Frankfurt, NY and Suzanne realized her dad's cousins Chuck and Bea Hemenway lived there. We drove around the town until we found a house that looked familiar to her...this was the pre-cell phone era remember. They graciously put us up for the night until the storm passed and we made it back to school the next day with Nan's Peugeot safe and sound.
NEXT: THE COURTSHIP AND BEYOND
"...There be that can pack the cards and yet cannot play well..."
Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
Sitting here in the February warmth of the Arizona Valley of the Sun, for a week's respite from the Rochester snowstorms, my memories are energized once again as I think back to 1966, 51 years ago, when I had my whole life ahead of me and many decisions to make. It was the Senior year of college, Spring was approaching rapidly, and I had no plans or particular ambitions, only to know I was enamoured by this blonde young woman from Cherry Valley, New York!
 |
| Senior Year! |
After that first sighting in Buck and Red’s Rendezvous, I still had not actually met her! One day, I was sitting in the University Center with some friends and noted her across the room, playing bridge with some other young women. I saw one of them get up and leave, probably to go to a class, when Suzanne stood up and called out if anyone would like to join them. This was my big opportunity and I was not about to let it pass! I quickly volunteered with some trepidation because I had never before played bridge in my life nor did I even understand the game. The first go-round I survived by saying “pass” each time they got to me and ended up being the dummy, appropriately. However, during the next round of bidding, I gave myself away as Suzanne stood up and said, “You’ve never played bridge before, have you?”. I sheepishly admitted to my crime and said, “I just wanted to meet you! Would you like to have coffee with me?” She laughed and agreed. I cannot really remember what happened next but I asked her for a date and after a few of these, we got to like each other.
 |
| The Bridge Game! |
I knew she had a few other admirers and, in particular, one football player who was quite a bit brawnier than I was. One night as I was walking Suzanne back to her dorm, he...I’ll call him Joe...was coming out of the dorm and, as we walked passed, I felt his muscular elbow brush heavily along my rib cage. After saying good night, I looked outside and saw Big Joe mulling about waiting for me. Feeling in imminent danger for my short life, I looked across the dorm alcove only to see my fraternity brother, Gary, exiting at the same time. I told him I would buy him a beer which he readily agreed to...so Gary and I walked out together. Joe took one look, turned around and left. You see, Gary was also a varsity hockey player known as “Cruncher”, for obvious reasons. He went on to play many successful seasons in the National Hockey League...so, just as I had saved Sydney Poitier’s life, Gary “saved” mine. Years later when I was doing my Residency in Ohio, I went to see “Cruncher” in an NHL game and got to chat with him.
 |
| "Cruncher" |
Suzanne and I continued to date and, in February, she invited me home to meet her parents. A city boy, here I was about to head to a dairy farm in the country, with a dance on the agenda for the weekend which, by the way, turned out to be one of the snowiest weekends New York State had seen in decades. Having no car, I prevailed on my friend, Nan Griffin, to lend me her trendy little Peugeot 403. As we headed off for Cherry Valley, the weather worsened. I already knew Suzanne’s brother, Frank, who also attended St.Lawrence, but was looking forward to meeting the rest of the family.
 |
| Peugeot 403 |
Cherry Valley is a very scenic part of the state, with rolling hills surrounding a charming old historic village in the valley. The village was know for the famed massacre in 1778. The farm was on the outskirts, with Holstein cows and land as far as the eye could see at least for me. Sue’s dad had the formal name of Glenn Oscar but went by the moniker of “Tex”, her mom being Mary Margaret or “Peg”. Their farm was Peglen Farm! Tex was a Cornell graduate having been schooled in all things agricultural at the famed Ag school. Peg, herself, had gone to St. Lawrence on a scholarship which she later gave to her sister Mim after 3 years, as she left to go to work for Owen D Young, founder of General Electric and friend of FDR. Peg’s dad had been the herd manager for Mr. Young at his gentleman’s farm in Van Hornesville. Tex descended from early German and English farmers who settled the Mohawk Valley in the 1800’s. Peg, herself, was a Hoosier from Indiana with lines back to the 1600’s in Massachusetts and Vermont, Revolutionary War officers and the granddaughter of the Chancellor of Syracuse University.
The Blumenstock's were delightful folks including brothers Frank and younger brother John. I was told to bring a suit and tie to the dance so I had pulled one out of my dorm closet before leaving campus. It was to be a somewhat formal affair! After a nice dinner which was finished off by Peg's Red Raspberry Pudding (to this day, still my favorite!), we were ready to go off to to Cooperstown.
 |
| The "key" to my heart! The sauce is caramelized. |
Tex suggested we go in separate cars which I readily agreed to...however, his idea was that I was to go with him and Suzanne with her mother! Tex drove with me in the front passenger seat, the car slowly wending its way through the deep snow made worse by the dark night and the inadequate windshield wipers. We made small talk for a while and then, Tex turned to me and asked, "What are your intentions with my daughter?" I was ready to jump out of the car into the snowy abyss. I really didn't know what to say but I managed a weak "I'm very fond of her and if things go well between us...". He then brought up the 200 pound elephant in the car when he addressed the difference in our religions! He said he didn't care what my faith was as long as I loved and treated his daughter well. The rest of the ride was pleasant and we arrived safely in Cooperstown at the Fenimore Ball (which is where the Fenimore Museum is today). It was quite the soiree with formal dress and an orchestra. It was a grand time and Suzanne looked beautiful in a black and white checked cocktail dress which still hangs in our closet today. This "city mouse" certainly had a new impression about "country mice"!
 |
| The Fenimore House |
It was a memorable weekend. On the way back to Canton, the snow was so bad that the wipers had quit working. We found ourselves in Frankfurt, NY and Suzanne realized her dad's cousins Chuck and Bea Hemenway lived there. We drove around the town until we found a house that looked familiar to her...this was the pre-cell phone era remember. They graciously put us up for the night until the storm passed and we made it back to school the next day with Nan's Peugeot safe and sound.
NEXT: THE COURTSHIP AND BEYOND
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