That Would Be O Positive Sir

Look. At. This!

Can you guess what I did today?

That's right. I donated blood. Real live blood.

It was totally awesome! It was not even hard or painful or scary.

They made me read this purple packet thing that told me all the reasons I could possibly be disqualified from donating blood and of course I did not fit into any of them, so it was all go.

But then I discovered that you have to have ID and guess what. I forgot mine. So I had to go all the way back home to get it and the whole detour took almost an hour. But that did not stop me from saving a life, no it did not.

I came back with my ID and I fulfilled my duty to society.

Before you do it you have to go into this private little cubicle thing with a phlebotomist and he asks you a million questions, but guess what. Approximately 43% of those questions have to do with what your name is. Apparently they just have to make sure you are who you say you are and you don't randomly change in the middle of the conversation.

The other 57% are easy questions like birthday and what not and they are also repeated about 3 times each.

Phlebotomist Ryan: Have you ever donated blood before?

Me: No.

PR: First name?

Me: Me.

PR: Birthdate?

Me: Month, day, year.

PR: Have you donated blood under any other name?

Me: No. I've never donated blood.

PR: Sorry, I know you already told me that, it's just a rule that I ask you.

Me: Oh.

PR: State your name.

Me: Me.

PR: State your gender.

Me: Female.

PR: Spell your name.

Me: M-e.

So you see? Easy peasy.

So I asked PR how he got his job and he was telling me all about it and guess what he said.

PR: You only need 12 sticks.

Me: Sticks?

PR: (Doing the movement with his hand/arm) Putting the needle in and drawing blood.

Me: YOU CALL IT A STICK?!?

PR: Te he. Ya.

That kind of freaked me out.

Then I had to answer all these questions alone on the computer about my disease and drug and travel history and when I was done, Phlebotomist Jeremy came to my aid.

PJ: First name?

Really???

But I was not done with my name for one day. After that, he led me to the chair from which I would be donating, and right before he got down to the real thing, he looked at his file and said: State your name for me one more time.

And then he stuck the needle in my arm.

Not only did I save a life, but I got yummy treats after, plus this sweet shirt that looks even better on.

Boo ya. I'm totally doing that again.