I love giving blood.
I love that it gives me a reason to be/stay healthy in between donations. I love that if I’m a regular donor with South Central Texas Blood Center, if my family needs blood then they’ll get priority. I giggle like Peggy Hill trying to beat Min to the “Gallon Donor” mug as I check online and see how many points I have from donating, and what I get to buy at the cool online store.
Like this shirt:
Or this mug:
I love that you’re SUPPOSED to eat a lot in the days leading up to the donation! It gives me a reason to order steak and red wine (and by that, I mean go on a winery tour, drink/starve all day, and order a giant steak on special at Mamacita’s – and then eat the leftovers over and over again).
I like the walk I take across campus on my way to the donation area in JKC, and just count my blessings – or days like today, when I got to walk with a couple of my students and get to know them a little better. About how I’m finally living, breathing, eating, and loving everything in the same town. All my makeup and jewelry is in one place, I’m done. I just have to drive under ten minutes to work – I know it’s something a lot of people take for granted, but it’s something I really value after the past couple of years I’ve had.
I love, love, love that all the phlebotomists that work at this particular blood donation center are always tatted up. Their hair is crazy. And they are just really down-to-Earth people. My sticker (ha!) today was grumbling to her coworker about their coordinators who call them and bug them about stats when they could just easily walk upstairs and check and see. I’m lying there thinking “Hmmm…”
Mer: “I’m sorry for whatever your boss did to you…”
Phleb: “Oh, it’s just our coordinators. They bug us for stats. I mean, really? Just walk up here and take a look around…”
Mer: “Oh…”
Mer: “Please smile before you stick me…”
*Laughter ensues*
And then after a small bit, it’s gatorade in a can and fig newtons.
I love how everything is such fun afterward, especially when you get back to your office and they’ve finally claimed back the miscellaneous towers, monitors, phones, pieces that I’ve been stepping over for months. Is a happy dance in order?
