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August 12, 2003
Bloodmobilia
Every few months there's a blood drive at Microsoft. I was a semi-regular blood donor in Canada, so I was more than willing to donate here as well. I tried about two months ago, but since I had spent time in a malaria zone in August 2001 (the DMZ in South Korea, I was banned from giving blood until my two year anniversary, which is now (mid-August 2003).
I walked out into the parking lot and towards the large trailer which was unmistakably the Bloodmobile. It had giant hemogloben-rich red blood cells painted all over it. One of the cells appeared to be riding a skateboard. I climbed in anyway.
Inside, a large bearded man cheerfully sat me down and typed in my name, date of birth, and whoops! I was already in the system. I explained what happened last time, and that I should be ok to donate. But there was a problem. There was a red box by my name. The large man even showed it to me. Apparently I was deferred until the August 15. Why that date? Because it was an arbitrary day in the middle of August, approximately two years since my return from malaria-ridden rural South Korea. The man told me to come back in four days. I asked if the Bloodmobile would still be there. Smiling, he said no and slapped a blue I Tried Giving Blood sticker onto my left breast.
So I got to leave with all my blood, but without that warm feeling that comes with trying to help your fellow man. I also didn't get any cookies or orange drink.
Comments
Now you know how I feel ...
Posted by: mark at August 12, 2003 4:47 AM
is it because you have large thumbs, mark?
Posted by: pete at August 12, 2003 7:27 AM