One of the highlights of attending the ACBL National Tournament in Minneapolis was an unforgettable moment for Spades & Company founder, Norrie Thomas—meeting renowned bridge author and teacher Barbara Seagram.

For Norrie, this wasn't simply meeting a well-known figure in the bridge world. Barbara Seagram's books have been trusted companions throughout her entire bridge journey. As a beginning player, Norrie relied on Barbara's clear, encouraging teaching style to build a strong foundation in the game. Today, even as an accredited teacher, club director, and tournament player, she continues to revisit those same books, discovering new insights with every reading. It's a wonderful reminder that bridge truly is a lifelong adventure, and there's always something new to learn.

Barbara Seagram is the author of many of bridge's most respected instructional books, including 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know, Declarer Play at Bridge: A Quizbook, Planning the Play of the Hand at Bridge, and Defend or Declare?. Her ability to explain complex concepts in an approachable way has helped countless players around the world gain confidence and improve their game.

Norrie's meeting with Barbara Seagram beautifully reflects the mission of Spades & Company: fostering lifelong learning, meaningful connections, and a passion for bridge that continues to grow with every hand played.