Blood Donor

I donated blood for the first time yesterday. I've always meant to before but, just never seemed to find the time. Everybody knows somebody who's life has been saved by a blood transfusion,whether in an emergency room or an operating table. It's a good thing to do. The Red Cross sent out a postcard touting a blood drive being sponsored by the Red Sox on Tuesday.

It was raining like Hell yesterday. I fiddle-farted around in the morning rather than going out for a run. I put in the remaining replacement window & removed all the remnants of remaining storm windows. I was done a little after noon. By that time it was really pouring. I blew off any plans of running. Wimp. I went online (balky computer),checked the blooddrive was at the local Elks, starting at 1. The Red Cross website said the whole process should take about 60-75 minutes. I also noticed that I could've made an appointment online. I figured I didn't need to, I'd just walk in. What difference would it make?

I ran a few errands & got to the Elks around 2. Proceeded to fill out some forms & was given a number on a White piece of paper. Most of the people who came in were given a number on a Blue piece of paper. Blue was for people who made an appointment online. They went through faster. I made no prior connection that the day 9/11 would be a heavy day for blood donation. It is. I had to wait 2-1/2 hours before I was spoken to by a nurse. At least 15 donors with Blue numbers went before me. I was starting to get ticked off & almost went home (I still had some chores to do). Suddenly, they called my number "White 18".

The nurse checked my pulse,temp,blood pressure,& the iron levels in my blood. She asked me about fifty questions. Next thing I know I'm sitting in the ondeck circle of donors. I'm with a group of people watching other folks lying down on tables in the middle of the Elks dance floor. Clear plastic bags filling with blood from tubes stuck into people's arms. I've got butterflies a little bit. A slight distraction is an absolutely fit young woman in her 20's getting on the table. She's lying down on her back with the top of her head facing the awaiting donors. Note:if Priyanka ever donates blood I'm going to recommend she NOT wear a lowcut blouse. I'm not a pig. Ray Charles would've looked.

My turn. I lie on the table. I say a little prayer that I don't cry like a little girl when they stick the needle in. I also know I need to get out of there in a hurry because I need to get home & start dinner. The cuff goes on my right arm, I squeeze a little tubey thing with my hand, a vein pops up &...didn't hurt too much. The nurse tells me to squeeze the tube to make the blood flow. I squeeze like a want to crush the little sucker. I was done in five minutes. I guess it usually take 6-10 minutes to draw a pint of blood. I'm a natural.

I get up from the table. I'm not dizzy or anything but, I do have a slight headache. I sit at a cafeteria table for 15 minutes & drink apple juice & eat Vienna fingers. I get a teeshirt, a pen, some chapstick, & a postcard of a Red Sox player (Manny Ramirez). I enter a drawing for Sox tickets.

I go home. I paint some baseboard. I move the sectional. I cook dinner. I proudly show Alka & Priyanka my bandage. It's not a big deal. I did a good deed. I'll go back a donate again in 60 days. I am a Blood Donor.