Being a writer isn’t just about the writing part.

A great deal of writing is about working your way up to something that’s worth writing about.

Sometimes this means random ideas that feel like they just fall into your lap (and like you’ve just struck a golden vein in the earth), but other times finding things, people or topics to write about will involve a mixture of conversation and eavesdropping.

What can I say? I’ll confess here first: As a writer, I’ve often stood a few steps closer to conversations in order to see how other people perceive topics. People who don’t realize they’re being listened to will often cross boundaries that no person under clear observation would have said.

And while we’re talking about the topic of perception, let’s talk about the perception of bridge. It’s a topic that’s grabbed me ever since I first heard about the game.

Blues was the devil’s music; cards the devil’s game. (Considering this, I’m not sure how myths twisted up to associate bridge with an older crowd and every other card or board game with the potential of demonic forces…)

So, what do people outside of the bridge world think about bridge?

I thought it might be a good time to find out.

Because I know better, I’ve used only first names for reference throughout the piece.

The most honest answer to what regular people (thus, non-players) think of bridge is that most people don’t. These are the people bridge still has to be introduced to. But many people do remember the game, usually with fond (though vague) memories of parents, grandparents and friends spending nights playing cards.

Here’s what happened when I asked a few people about bridge.

“What Do You Know About Bridge?”

“People would get angry when their partner played the wrong cards. They took the game very seriously.”

                   – Linda

“I’m not entirely sure what bridge is, but best of luck!”

                   –  Jake

“What’s a contract bridge?”

                   – Faith

“Wait, bridge was a game and not just something you did after shuffling a deck?”

                   – Brian

“Not much, but I know it’s like 500 and euchre, both of which I’ve played before.”

                   – Phillip

“We never played bridge, but I do remember getting together to play a lot of Canasta with good friends way back when.”

                   – Ellen

“I remember my grandmother had a social circle and happy hour with some of her friends. I’d watch them all play when I was very young and my mom had left me at her house to run errands.

Of course I never understood what was happening but I remember the fancy wine glasses they’d all be drinking out of. Later in my teens, she taught me to play and it was something we shortly did together for a while.

When I joined the Marine Corps nobody knew how to play but Spades was similar and very popular. So I’ve since forgotten Bridge but still very much enjoy playing Spades. Its easier.”

                   – Zac