The Two K’s

Yesterday, the Two K’s and I met for our first Memorial Martini Lunch. Only one of us actually had a martini but we all three toasted two old friends – Dorothy Huggins who died at age 91 last Friday and Gordon Schoewe who would have been 88 today.

Kaye Mulvey Cowan, Kay Buesing, Dorothy and I all met one another in 1979/1980. Gordon was the one who introduced us – probably at a party or a picnic. But, in the case of my introduction to Dorothy and Chuck Huggins, it was because we were both building homes at the same time. Theirs was on the ocean; mine on the bay. Chuck was actually a hands-on builder; Dorothy and I were the overseers of our respective projects. Chuck, nine years older than Gordon had been his baby-sitter a gazillion years before. I, ten years younger than Gordon had been his house-sitter within recent memory.

Dorothy Huggins et al

Dorothy and I shared an interest in history and we both belonged to the Willapa Bay Chapter of the Washington State Daughters of the Pioneers. Over the years (fifteen, I think) that the Huggins lived on the Peninsula our lives became further entwined. It was largely because of Dorothy that my relationship with Nyel took a permanent turn. And, later, I became “Honorary Godmother” to her granddaughter Sydney.

It was during Dorothy’s first year as President of the Pacific County Historical Society in 1984 that she and the Board of Directors arranged to take on the DAR House at Fort Columbia, making it a satellite museum. Under a job-sharing grant from the University of Washington, they hired Nyel to serve as its first Director. Cupid Dorothy had met Nyel through me at a picnic at Gordon and Roy’s the previous summer.  At that time, Nyel was doing an internship at the (then) Ilwaco Heritage Museum. He had returned to Seattle to finish up his Master’s Degree and Dorothy knew I was pining…

Nyel and I and my Uncle Willard actually conspired to put on the First Maybe Annual Oysterville Croquet and Champagne Gala in September 1985 – a fund-raiser for the Historical Society so they could manage that “matching fund” requirement for Nyel’s salary! The Croquet Galas continued for the next 19 years, each one as a fund-raiser for a different non-profit. The Espy Foundation, Water Music Festival, the Pacific County Genealogy Society, the Oysterville Restoration Foundation, the Pacific County Humane Society – all were recipients over the years. Dorothy and Chuck (and Gordon, too!) attended every event, and I always think of her as the catalyst who started it all.

Ambrose, Gordon’s Alter Ego

Dorothy drank martinis – one each day – right up until the end of her long life. And, of course, Gordon drank martinis – “more than one but who’s counting” as he always said – for all the years I knew him. So it was only fitting that we three old friends, the Two K’s and I, should meet for a toast to days gone by. To Dorothy and Gordon! Cheers!