Hey all, sorry this post is a little late.
Caitlin, in answer to your question, I've really been neglecting the whole decreasing worldsuck aspect of nerdfighting lately. I'm going to tell you a little story that doesn't really have a happy ending.
The other day I accompanied my brother and his girlfriend to a blood donation center. The two of them were going to donate blood, and I was the "designated driver" (as apparently you're not really supposed to drive afterwards). We got there and it was a somewhat dingy room nestled in the 3rd floor of an office building.
There were several of those reclining hospital beds along the back wall, and as we walked in one of them was occupied. A middle-aged man lay there, disinterestedly watching the nearest TV. The tube coiled out from his arm and up to the little collection bag.
It was really red. Like, I don't know if you know this, but blood is really red.
And honestly? It kind of scared me. I'd been thinking recently that I'd like to donate blood, and even though I hadn't planned to on this particular day, it was good to see what it was like. At least, that was what I was thinking before I walked in. The second I saw the solid red tube taped to that guy's arm the words donating blood is freaking scary I don't think I ever want that to happen to me went through my mind.
We ended up having to leave because the lady didn't buy our story that I was my brother's legal guardian, so I didn't get to witness the whole process. My brother and his girlfriend went back a few days later but I didn't go with them; the idea still kind of freaks me out.
So I guess the point I'm trying to make is that sometimes doing what it takes to decrease worldsuck can be scary. And when you're someone like me, getting over those fears is hard. I want to promise you that I'm going to face those fears and donate blood by the end of this summer, but I honestly don't know if I could keep that promise.
Sorry, this is a bit depressing. I don't mean to be a downer. Maybe I just need some motivation....
DFTBA,
Emily
I was with two of my friends one time when they were donating blood and I felt so guilty because I know it's such a good thing to do, but I couldn't even go in with them it freaked me out too much, as soon as we got past the front desk I started trembling :S
ReplyDeleteIt freaked me out when I did it. It still freaks me out now... Whenever I think about it my arms go weird. But, I was able to pull through... By cringing and concentrating on the Simpsons and refusing to look at any of the bags with blood. *shivers*
ReplyDelete