the great and generous taj mandela became a dad for the first time at age 52 on june 5th, 2006. his almost 9-pound daughter, laila pearl, was delivered safely and miraculously by midwife at five in the morning in pasadena, california, to mother, natasha, after a long and safe home birth. you know how you have this core kernel of friends? a group of 4 or 5 of you that grow up together? bond together? go through the fire of time and place together? you could have a few kernels, a few different places. maybe one from childhood. another from…