#293: They Say It's Your Birthday
Birthdays are to celebrate and Birthingdays are, too.
38 years ago in the wee hours on a cold snowy January night my son Duncan takes his first breath in the loft of my tiny 300 square foot cabin. He’s right on his due date, too, which is a good thing because I have nothing that fits left to wear save for my husband’s tee-shirts!
Earlier that day, I successfully shimmy myself into my Mexican wedding dress to go to the general store because I’ve decided that I absolutely must have a new iron. We go to every store in town but decide that the very first one I see is the one I want so back we go to buy it. Then I come home and cut and sew up purple corduroy overalls and a lavender plaid flannel shirt for my daughter Sara, sweep and wash the floor, and make bread. Nesting urges abound!
That evening my water breaks, I call the midwife and, as I have relatively short labors, I tell her she might want to come on over. Then I set about waiting and waiting for labor to actually begin. I decide to take a shower and contractions start while standing under its spray of water. By the time I dry off, they are strong ones— the kind that let you know this is happening soon!
I climb up the ladder to our sleeping loft and settle in. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. A half hour after Susie the midwife arrives, out pops my beautiful baby boy…all 9 pounds 4 ounces of him! He gives a few cries and then looks around as if to say, Cool! I’m here! What’s next? She weighs Mr Mellow in an egg scale and says she has never seen a newborn with already developed quads! I now know this is a sign of a gifted athlete.
We have many wonderful adventures together.
May you and Olivia have many more!
Happy Birthday, Sweet Duncan, and here’s to many more!
Right now, I’m cooking and baking up a celebration feast for family and friends who are coming tonight. I’m watching reruns in my head of all the years that have passed and seeing glimpses of the previews of many more to come.
Duncan’s 38th Birthday Celebration Menu
Roast Winter Vegetables
Seared Salmon with Greens
Coconut Milk Flan
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They Say It’s Your Birthday!
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This is so sweet and lovely, Kate! Happy Birthday, Duncan! 🎂 (wish I was coming for dinner!)
Sweetest trip down memory lane my friend!
Celebrating with you… 💗