BLOOD! AND LOTS OF IT!

Did the tag get your attention?  Good!  I just got back from the Red Cross doing the apherisis thing. That's where you donate platelets to help people undergoing chemotherapy.  And they asked me if they could also take some whole blood while I was there, because supplies are low.  I'm O-Positive, which is sort of the universal blood type that they give to just about anybody (Yes folks!  Step right up!  There's blood for everybody!)  I told them sure.

Here's the thing.  People need blood all the time.  Don't wait until a terrorist attack, or a tornado or earthquake or whatever to donate.  That's when people decide that they want to help, and the ARC and Oklahoma Blood Services just get swamped and a lot of people leave because of the wait.  So if you CAN donate, please do.  It may sound trite, but the next person who needs blood might be you--or someone you know.  And as for aspherisis, ever know anyone who had cancer?  Yeah, I thought so.

Here's the cool part of the pitch.  Donating blood takes about an hour.  Apherisis about two. So you can just sit back and read.  With apherisis, you can watch TV or surf the net.  That's right-- you can sit on you ass, doing nothing and STILL BE DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT.  And you get snacks and drinks.

BTW, I don't like needles either, but I figure it's better than needing blood or platelets.  Think of it as racking up good karma.

Okay, I'll take my soapbox and go home now.