Gus was born 21 years ago this moment. I wish I’d baked his 21st birthday cake. He probably would have requested German Chocolate with Coconut Pecan Icing. Instead a friend made him a pie sized (cookie?) which he enjoyed at 10:43 p.m. PST at Stanford’s Sierra Camp on Fallen Leaf Lake south of Lake Tahoe. Proof titled “It’s My Birthday in Maine!” arrived via e-mail at 1:43 a.m. this morning.
I’m writing because I’m grateful for the support this blog has received since late October. It was launched as the result of Gus’s brother’s email request for a recipe. I responded with the one for Pumpkin Harvest Muffins and Nate emailed back: Pumpkin Harvest Muffins. Needing an illustration he co-opted Nick’s Instagram of the jack-o-lantern he carved in Los Angeles. The rest is not exactly history since we’ve committed to doing this for at least a year.
Awareness about Celiac Disease and a GF lifestyle has changed a lot in 15 years. I’m not certain how I would have used the information on Gluten Free Gus and similar blogs and websites had it been available when Gus was diagnosed at age 6 with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease. It pleases me that so many have taken our recipes and ideas and incorporated them into their own gluten-free/wheat free lives. Thank you for your willingness to bake, make, experiment, and share. I appreciate your generosity and trust.
Happy Birthday Gus! It’s because of you we’re on a path that has informed and enriched our lives in ways we never could have predicted. You da man! You da 21 year old man! We’ve loved all 7,665 days of your life. Wish we were with you to eat GF cake!
Big hugs from Maine!
Gluten Free Gus 
It’s hard to be a mom – especially a long distance mom! (been there, doing that!) Be proud of the man you raised, and just put that German Chocolate cake off until his next visit home – birthday candles make every room brighter – whatever the date.
Happy 21st Birthday Gus!! Let’s all enjoy your Mom’s German Chocolate cake the next time you are home!
xoxoxo
Happy birthday, Gus!
That Ring Ding Cake looks fabulous! Last year’s birthday cake? Recipe?!
Yep: AMAZING! It’s been on the list of recipes to share – should have used yesterday as the excuse to make it. Shooting for mid-August when we’ll have another round of birthdays. Even though they all eat conventional diets, a request for Gus’s Ring Ding is guaranteed!
I don’t know what I’d do without my mama … Since I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and embarked on a gluten-free lifestyle, she’s been responsible for more research than I can keep track of. Thanks for sharing your successes with the rest of us! And happy birthday, Gus!
Thank you for sharing and inspiring with a great blog!
-Kristine
Congratulations to Gus and to mom too! What a beautiful and healthy looking boy. I have two of those lovely sons myself, 21 and 19. The youngest has, just a myself, Celiac. And you are so right that over the years it has only become easer to cook/eat/live gluten free. When I was young,you could only buy very expensive and not always tasty food items. Going out for dinner was just a no-go. My youngest can cook, for families and all. Eating and cooking is something we enjoy. He has just left home and his two flatmates have decided to go GF as well because it is easier! How about that…
So thank you too, for helping because I have yet to have a recipe from you that has not turned out delicious! Johanna
This means a lot – thank you.
Happy 21st Birthday Gus and great job Mama!!
Happy Birthday Gus!