Happy holidays! If you want a short column, you’re in luck. My report of sectional results from Diablo Valley, Oakland, and Berkeley-El Cerrito-Richmond will have to wait a month. I’m afraid it’s the electronic equivalent of “the dog ate my homework.” The hard drive on my home computer crashed shortly before my deadline, locking away all this vital data till I get a replacement.

This column should have a permanent disclaimer that you can only believe half of what you read. I was right last month that our unit’s holiday party is on Sunday, December 10, with a potluck dinner at 5:30 p.m. and a pairs game to follow. I was wrong about the game, a STAC game, being free. Sign up at the San Jose Bridge Club. Space is limited.

If the holiday party is as popular as our last unit game, you’ll need to reserve a space. We had a full house, 18 tables. Rose Meltzer-Johnson gave us another reason to congratulate her by winning the district’s Flight A North American Pairs game with Peter Weichsel. Ed Barlow finished second. Tony Staw & Nelson Lu won the Flight C pairs game, earning a free trip to the nationals in Kansas City. Do we have a strong San Jose unit or what?

First place at the unit game went to Marjory Yates & Betsy Steele. First place Bs were Lynn Yokel & Annette Powers. First place Cs were Larry & Lynn Brown. Phyllis Vierra and Lynn arranged a very nice spread. Blame me if you missed a hand record. Sorry, I failed to anticipate the large turnout.

I’m saddened to report that Donna Munday passed away. She had a quip for everyone who came to her table. I remember her laughter and cheer.

Florence Golden broke her hip. Let’s hope she’s fully recovered by the time this column appears.

George Pledger, our membership chair, was hospitalized recently. He’ll be preparing an updated roster for 2001. It will be posted at the club so that you can make address corrections.

Our unit has a number of players in the national mini-McKenney rankings, including Gigi Spinazze, Shih-Ming Shih, Vandana Vidwans, Lynn Yokel, Will Watson, Rose Meltzer, and Peter Weichsel.

I’m pleased to see Will’s new Friday night game increasing in popularity every week.

Corrections, comments and news are welcome at (408)379-7717 and rayyuenger@earthlink.net.