Kaye at 90!

She looked like a million bucks! I never saw her sit down. As if it were even possible, her smile got brighter and brighter. Kaye Mulvey Cowan celebrated her ninetieth birthday in her inimitable style – hostess, mother, grandma, friend all wrapped into one stylish package!

More than a hundred of her nearest and dearest gathered at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum yesterday to wish her many happy returns; we promised to ‘do it again’ in ten years. We’re pretty sure Kaye will make it… not so sure about the rest of us.

The Birthday Girl greeted each guest as they entered the flower bedecked room. She had a bit of bedecking of her own – a gorgeous orchid lei from Lucile Pierce who had been vacationing in Hawaii. And leave it to Kaye to wear a matching dress!

“I had planned to wear something else – probably basic black,” she confided. “But when the lei arrived, I decided to wear this.” That’s Kaye! An outfit for every occasion. I’ve never peeked in her closet but I’ll bet it is awesome.

At Kaye’s Party

And the food, catered by the Two Monkeys (that would be Rosemary and Ellen of the Museum staff!) was also pure Kaye. There were cheeses of every variety, designer crackers, some even gluten-free, crudités and dips, and of course a birthday cake for dessert! I’ve been to many a similar spread at Kaye’s (well, maybe not the clam fritters cooked to perfection by Ellen’s husband, Dick and maybe not the cake); we all felt ‘right at home!’

We talked about all the usual things and, of course, missed those who are no longer around to party with us. The conversation stopped only once when a group of Kaye’s grandchildren, brought down the house with their dancing, lip-synching extravaganza – three lovely young ladies and their full-bearded brother dressed in wigs-and-boas a la Kaye!

All-in-all, it was a grand “do.” Here’s to many more, dear Kaye, and meanwhile let’s party on!