OMAR — IN APPRECIATION!

All my childhood and adult life, I have been a movie buff.  Sometimes I can’t remember what I had for breakfast yesterday, but I have been fortunate enough to have a fantastic recall for old movies, stars, co-stars, wedded Hollywood couples as well as divorced ones, songs from the flicks and so on.  Perhaps that combination of failure and success run hand and hand with dementia or the beginning of Alzheimer’s (which on occasion surfaces at the table).   Whatever!

Even before I became actively involved in bridge, I frequented the cinema and had certain undisputable favorites.   One of them was Omar Sharif .. not so much for his good looks, but more so for his charming demeanor.  I still savor many of his flicks – particularly Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago, The Tamerind Seed and the light-hearted musical “Funny Girl” with Barbara Streisand.  It is worthy of note that Omar received some flack back home, angering government officials, when he co-starred with the unmistakably Jewish Ms. Streisand.  To add to my fascination, I later learned he was one of our bridge flock and was addicted by the same passion we all share.   Some years afterwards I got wind of the Omar Sharif Tour and excitedly noted that Philadelphia was one of the stops on the roster of cities where the Circus would visit.  Little did I envision what was about to happen. 

As you remember, it was a three-cornered contest (The Dallas Aces, the Local City’s superstars and of course, Omar’s team) which consisted of several prominent European bridge celebrities, including the top players from the Italian Blue Team (Belladonna, Garozzo and Forquet).  They would be arriving at The Drake Hotel for a several day stay (playing afternoon duplicates against the local players) and at night would have the three-way-match which the public would kibitz.  Due to previous commitments, Bob Jordan (who was asked to oversee the Philadelphia appearance) realized he would be in Australia for a bridge outing but would return home just before the Circus came to town so he asked me (as Norman’s wife and his best friend) to make the arrangements and tend to the “little” details with the hotel, press, etc.  Naively, I accepted – not knowing what was in store for me.  I luckily had an unprecedented support group from equally fascinated bridge lovers and when Bob arrived home ready for the Circus’ arrival – we were good to go.   In retrospect, if I knew all the responsibility I was undertaking when I accepted Bob’s request, I probably would have refused.   But – as fate had it, the Circus was in town and we were ready!  Due to the exuberant Philadelphia cast of hundreds, the rooms were flooded daily with duplicate players and nightly kibitzers.  In all due modesty (but mainly because of my eager workers who  physically threw themselves into the task heart and soul) – we drew more visitors than any city on the tour.  You may wonder why all the background .. so I will put your suffering to an end.

Sunday evening, after the last session, Omar stood up before a wildly cheering house and was utterly overwhelmed by the reception the Circus received.  He had learned that I was the substituted power behind the throne and, though it was fun, worked my butt off preparing for this momentous occasion which ended the seven or eight city-tour.    Omar summoned me to the podium and before I knew it, the picture above was snapped.  It was over forty years ago and the number forty rings a bell as it was just as many pounds that I had gained since then.   Ah, to be young and thin again.