13 is in the Cooler

Well, yesterday was a mile stone of sorts for my blood donation.  It represented my 13th gallon (official) since I have been donating.  I was a bit concerned that I would get a ditzy phlebotomist that woudl blow out my vein, but I was lucky.  The only problem was computer related (of course since that is my vocation!),and they cleared that up in about 10 minutes.

Last month, they had a get together for all their "century" donors.  I was unable to attend since I was in California, but in preparation, they asked us why we had donated so much.  They were looking for interesting stories.  Unfortunately (or really fortunately) my story was dull - because I can.  But I am going to be interested to read the other stories when they are published.  They always have posters of people who have received donated blood.  Some are really tear jerkers.  I am glad that in some small way, I have helped these people live normal lives (like the one I was reading yesterday - with a malady about a yard long that I have no hope of remembering the name).

There are a lot of us out there that have reached the century mark (all it takes is living long enough), but unfortunately not really enough.  Like clockwork, I dont have to remember when I am eligible again as I know I will get a call the day my 8 weeks "vacation" is up.  If more donated, they would not care or bother being tenacious (I was told the other day when I called someone that, that I was being very PC - a nice way of saying a bitch - but that is a story for another day).

For now, I have 8 weeks of phone silence (well, since I live in a swing state, except for the political calls 3-4 times a day), and 8 weeks of not worrying about the competancy of the phlebotomist (the only real draw back - you never know if you get a good one, or a bad one!).  And somewhere around here, someone will be grateful for a pint of O- that helps with their operation, or actually saves their life.

Oh, and my vitals were great!  Straight down the middle of normal (I guess some could say that is boring - oh well!).  Not bad for an aging geezer that has seen them in the not good range in the past!