30, 60, 90: An Official Family Report on Lou, Age 90

Today my mom, Lou, turns 90, which means our family has officially hit the trifecta: my son turned 30 in July, I'm turning 60, and Lou is 90. Three generations, one year, and frankly, she's the one setting the pace for all of us.

The Lou File, as compiled by her very biased daughter:

She is kind, giving, sharp, patient, and can make a decision faster than I can finish a sentence. She is a visionary, a creator, thoughtful, and when the plan changes, she pivots so smoothly you'd think it was her plan all along. She is sassy, I come by it honestly, witty, and successful. Her word is gold. Her schedule is platinum.

She had one true love, raised four kids, and has served as the family Energizer since roughly 1960: determined, principled, steady, and impossible to outlast. We have tried. We have failed.

She is a lifelong learner, endlessly positive, and robust in ways that frankly exhaust the rest of us. She cherishes time with her kids, grandkids, and friends on and off Mercer Island, and she is fierce at crosswords, unbeatable at bridge, and the only 90-year-old I know who texts faster than I do.

Her requirements for happiness: good water, great food, being on time, and a hot shower. That's it. Simple, non-negotiable, and honestly, goals.

She had an amazing career in real estate, met incredible people, and still keeps her calendar full with her community and her newer friends at the Monserrat Condominium. She has a quote for everything, an outlook that lifts a room, and a smile that has been on duty for 90 years.

In real estate terms, my mom has it all: unmatched curb appeal, a prime Mercer Island location, an unbeatable track record, and after 90 years she is still only appreciating in value.

So here's to Lou: the spunk, the fire, the wit, the sass. Happy 90th, Mom. Cheers to another year around the sun. We'll try to keep up.