(no subject)

[botias]

Reading Material:	Arabella by Georgette Hayer
	The American Way of Death by Jessica Mitford
	The Best American Science Writing 2002
	+ asst. romance novels and children's books

"Have you ever delivered a baby before?"
"No."
Somehow I had managed to arrive before all the midwives. I knocked and entered the house and a man hollered from the bedroom.
"Who is it?"
"Birth tub," I said.
I thought I heard him say "Just great!" but there was no other response.

As I wandered aimlessly about the living room, I thought, that sure sounds like the head being born to me. Finally I poked my head in the room. I'd never 'delivered' a baby, but I've gotten a pretty good idea of how it goes, what with one thing and another. It was electric to see a baby being born. A little girl baby! Once I saw that she was breathing, I asked if the mom wanted her on her chest. "Yes!" So dad lifted the baby up while I put pillows behind mom. Then I suggested a blanket and left them to it. Dad was wired. Wow, what an experience. The midwives arrived shortly thereafter. I got to see the placenta. It was blue and smooth on one side. It looked like lapis... and like raw meat on the other. I was jazzed all the way home. I didn't get to rent my tub, but it was worth it.

When I got home I saw that Alan had finished installing the projector on the ceiling so we ate mac and cheese and watched some Harry Potter. I started to come down, and began to feel down right melancholy. Perhaps I should have just left right away. Kate, who is quite fond of me, asked the parents if I could see the baby before I left, and they agreed, but I began to feel like I must have intruded on their privacy and should have declined myself. Then we went to bed. Shortly after the clocks struck one, I fell asleep.
Maybe I should look into a neonatal resuscitation class.