PITTSFIELD, Mass. -  The bridge club at the Pittsfield Senior Center has been around almost 20 years. And on Tuesday, they were back together, playing cards for the first time in 13 months.

"It feels great to be back, you know, after so many months of not being able to do very much. These ladies are great people to be with, and it's just fun to be back," said Kathy O'Donnell, a bridge club member.

Eleanor Persip, who helps run the group, said, "Although, the unfortunate thing is, is that now that we're able to go out and do things, we've got to start wearing better clothes that what we wear around the house."

Persip said it was hard not being able to be together this past year. Most of the players come more for the friendships than the game itself.

"It's just a social thing. It's just being together," Persip said. "Nobody starts arguing or slamming the cards on the table or anything like that. It's just being together."

The Senior Center is restarting many of its daily classes and activities this week. It's the first time they've hosted any recreation groups since March 2020.

Executive Director Jim Clark says they finally feel it's safe to bring people together again.

Clark said,"Here in Pittsfield, we're at over 80% of the seniors have been vaccinated, at least their first dose, which is great, and people are cautious. We have to treat everybody have they not been vaccinated, with a mask and social distancing, but we can do that."

Clark says the center is expecting to re-open more programs in the next few months and for now, this group is enjoying some return to normalcy.

O'Donnell said, "It's good to get out again and meeting people you know and you love. And it's almost a relief, you know? You can do things again."