I’m not ready to wish you a happy New Year. I’m writing this a month in advance, and there’s still a lot I have to do this year. Greeting cards, shopping for presents. If you’re reading this, you’ll have survived the holidays. Congratulations!

Upcoming on Saturday night, January 31 will be a wine and cheese unit game. Watch for more information to be posted at the San Jose Bridge Club and on our website, sjbridge.org.

Now let’s take a look backwards. At the Diablo Valley sectional, Lynn Yokel had a stratification top in a two-session pair game. Will Watson & Frank Lowenthal were 2nd overall in the event. Jeff Hack got a section top in a single-session game. In the bracketed Swiss, on winning teams were Fran Dickman and Eric Yang

In the Wine Valley sectional Will Watson had a section top. Tania Moalem’s Swiss team won in their bracket.

At the East Bay sectional, Steve Conaway’s team was first in their strat.

Some of us were unable to attend this last sectional, because we were in New Orleans at the nationals. It was my first trip. I enjoyed several sightseeing days. And the food at most restaurants was superb. But you aren’t reading this to read my restaurant reviews (I hope). And I’m not going to write anything about who collected beads on Bourbon Street. I’m selling those stories to the National Enquirer.

Our unit had a good turnout at the bridge tables, though several were slowed down by colds. In the national events, Rose Meltzer’s team was 6th in the Open Board-a-Match and 6th in the Reisinger. In regional events, topping the X flight was a Swiss team including Harriel Shea, Panette Talia, and Ray Yuenger.

On a sadder note, Jeanne Becht was hospitalized in New Orleans. Here’s hoping she’ll be back with us long before this column arrives in your mailbox.

If you want to read more news or gossip here, you need to let me know what it is at (408)-379-7717 and rayyuenger@starband.net.