4 January 1980, Sacramento, California opus 76
| 17 January 2023 1400 Hours | | Birth, Family, Youth |
My second son, after Pierre, was Basil Gavin.
Unlike his brother born in Africa,
Basil was an urban-birthed baby, born in Sacramento.
To carry on custom and that to which we were used to,
We found a hospital that conducted 'home births' with backup!
The young doctor was bearded and a bit Bohemian.
Thus, I offered to pay part of the expense with a butchered sheep!
He accepted and the moment finally came.
Pierre had been a breech, resulting in a Cesarean;
Basil would be a 'normal' birth--whatever that means.
As with Pierre, things got a little complex.
Forceps were needed to bring him out.
(Otherwise, nothing else unusual was required!)
After a time of recuperation, we all came home--
Once again, on our farm in Davis,
Basil was snuggled by a wood stove in the living room.
That's where life began and went on for many years--
A pastoral life, blended with remembrances of a former African experience.