#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!

The Cabin

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.

Taking a break while we build the big house. (1987)

On our wooden boat back in the day. (early 1990s)

12 years old! (1999)

At the 2017 James Beard Awards with me in NYC.

Just before his wedding in 2023.

May you and Olivia have many more!

In the kitchen at Pie Cottage

Family: Olivia, Kira, and Duncan

Snowboard Wedding

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 Chicken

• Roast Winter Vegetables

• Seared Salmon with Greens

• Easy Cheesy Rice and Beanies

• Salad with Vinagrette

• Coconut Milk Flan

• Cherry Pie

Through the end of January, paid subscriptions (both monthly and annual) are 25% off and I will donate 100% of what is received during this time to World Central Kitchen (minus the 10% newsletter service fee and Stripe processing fees, which are automatically deducted by the two providers.) Already a paid subscriber? Give a gift subscription! Please use the links below if you can help.

They Say It’s Your Birthday!

Link to Full List of Recipes

Something that you can do for me is to heart ❤️ this post. It not only lets me know that you are stopping by but this really helps my ratings on Substack, too. Thank you!

Kate McDermott’s Newsletter is AI Free

I made this with a canning jar lid and markers.

Home * In-Person Pie Camps * Virtual Classes * Recipes * Videos * Kate's Books. * Archive * About