Blood

So today I donated blood to the American Red Cross organization. Yes, I willingly allowed my middle finger to be pricked and to have the vein in my arm be injected with the most humungous needle I have ever seen. It was actually tube-like, and closely resembled a miniature spile; those things that are stuck in trees to draw out water. I guess that is kind of what giving blood is like. Anyway, I answered a lot of questions, got pricked by a needle to figure out my iron level, had my pulse and blood pressure taken, got the crease in my arm coated it Iodine - it was a orangey-brown color and looked really weird - and then out came the spile-needle. I couldn't look at my arm once the needle was in it; it was kind of freaky. But a pint of my blood went into one of those blood-bags and a bit more was put into six test tubes to verify that my blood would be fine for donating. the whole time I had to roll a ball around in my hand so as not to, I think, tense up and make a fist. This is all I have time to write about right now, but I just wanted to share about this. I wanted to do it last year, but arrived too late each time. I am glad I did it this time. It was scary, but I think that I will do it again because apparently the bag saves three lives! Go me!