Cathi Hatch: Arlene's 80 Years Plus One Day Party

Arlene Wright with her Great Granddaughter, Jaden

This is the second party in the past week I have attended to celebrate Arlene Wright's 80th birthday. Last evening was a beautiful black tie party at Arlene's Hunts' Point home that she organized to share her BIG birthday with her many friends that love her. I am so pleased that Ken and I are counted in that very special group!

It was a spectacular sunny evening on the shore of Lake Washington where four bagpipers played at water's edge as the guests arrived. Their music included a wide repertoire including "Happy Birthday" and each looked so elegant in his tartan kilt and formal jacket.

Rod Hoffman, Diane & Gordon Kuenster

Arlene had arranged for a beautiful white tent complete with crystal chandeliers on her terrace and as we arrived, we were all immediately drawn to the outside to hear the bagpipers and to connect with the many friends and relatives of Arlene.

Ken Hatch, Suzy & Moe Krabbe

Everyone looked so elegant; men in their tuxes and white dinner jackets and the women in summery cocktail atttire. Ken and I had the opportunity to talk with many of the guests and long-time friends including Jane & David Davis, Michele & Dan Heidt, Kent Stowell & Francia Russell, Tom & Ann Gores, Jim & Kathy Tune, Tom & Sue Raschella, Carol Anderson, Jan Rogers, Kathie Price, Patti Payne, Diane & Gordon Kuenster, Moe & Suzy Krabbe, Van & Nancy Strom, Sandi & Tim Premselaar, Lee & Carolyn Lewis, Toni & Rod Hoffman, Trudi & Dave Syferd, Joyce & Doug McCallum, Leena & Mel Sturman, and many others.

Nancy & Van Strom, Sandi & Tim Premselaar

As we arrived, we were greeted by caterer, Steve Gordon's handsome service staff and offered Dom Perignon champagne or our choice of any cocktail. The passed hors d'oeuvres were delicious including seared ahi on a homemade potato chip, tiny puff pastry mushroom tartlets, shrimp dumplings and a number of other choices too. Once we sat down for dinner, the main courses for the buffet supper included prime rib with horseradish cream or saffron aioli and sea bass with fresh tartar sauce and a host of delicious side dishes including one of my favorites, tiny new pototoes paired with fresh shelled peas.

Toni Hoffman, Cathi Hatch, Diane Kuenster

The only snafu was when everyone went galloping to the buffet table simultaneously and started down both sides of the table which created a "salmon swimming upstream" kind of bottleneck as people were trying to merge together from two different directions as Steve sliced the prime rib to order. Luckily, there was not a food fight and everyone was ultimately served and happy. Phew!

Carolyn Lewis, Bob Dodson, Kathie Price, Jan Rogers

After dinner, there was a beautiful birthday cake, which one of the servers with a thick handle-bar mustache had proudly prepared and it was served with French vanilla ice cream and fresh strawberries. Arlene's beautiful eight-year old great granddaughter, Jaden, helped her blow out the candles after we all sang "Happy Birthday" together. As an encore, Jaden brought Arlene a tiny American flag on a toothpick and began singing the "Star Spangled Banner". Arlene, who loves to sing, immediately joined in and pretty soon everyone at the party was singing our anthem together as Arlene waved the tiny American flag. After the party, Arlene told me later how proud she was of Jaden, for starting the singing and how good it made her feel to see all of her friends singing together regardless of their political party affiliation.

There were several people that stood and made toasts to Arlene including Jan Rogers, Doug McCallum, Patti Payne and Ken Hatch. Arlene's response to the toasts was heartfelt and poignant when she promised that she would attend each of our 80th birthday parties too. Though some of us have longer to wait than others, she promised that whether she was still living or not, that we should know that she will be there with each of us.