Me And Finn Kolesnik, The Youngest GLM
Back in 2008, I had been working in the film industry for a few years, which made a move from my hometown of New York City out to Los Angeles logical. I left behind a network of bridge friends and mentors, and when I got to LA I didn't really know anyone in the local scene. After checking out the LA clubs, though, I was invited to a bridge party in the Valley at the home of a very nice local player. After I'd been there for a moment, I noticed a familiar, friendly face attached to a tall man.
"Do you remember me?"
"Of course!"
This man was Alex Kolesnik. Ten years earlier in Chicago, we'd faced each other in an absolutely wild early-round Spingold match in which my team went into the final quarter stuck more than 60 IMPS and came back to lose by less than one game swing. After reminiscing and catching up, Alex invited me to play in local team events with him, and I credit him for making many great introductions for me over the years, including to my current regular partner of the last 9 years, Mitch Towner. At the time, Alex lived in Ventura with his wife and two children, and in 2009 he invited me to come play the October regional in Ventura and stay with his family for the week. It was then that I met his wife Sharon, his daughter Emma, and his then-five-year-old son, Finn. My introduction to Finn consisted of him, through a mop of towheaded hair, graciously inviting me to stay in his room for the week while he slept with his parents. Staying at Casa Kolesnik for the regional became a tradition for many years; in addition to hosting me, they regularly put up my partner Mitch and Alex's regular partner Bob Etter in a more-the-merrier atmosphere I looked forward to every year. Seeing Finn at different ages was also a highlight; once he took up the game we played tennis with Alex and Bob, and he even patiently tried to teach me how to use his beloved hoverboard one year, which was hilarious for all concerned. With Finn and Emma the children of extremely accomplished academics, it was obvious they were pretty brilliant at a young age, and I was sure they'd be successful and supported in whatever they chose to do.
With Finn, I did not think that choice would be bridge.
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