11 years

It took me 11 years to walk back into a blood donation space and give. I lied about my weight as a senior in High School in order to donate. But they rolled the veins on both of my arms and left me with huge bruises, no donation and a fear of blood donation. I've since been healthy and free of needle pricking until December. I'm still healthy, but had some scans in December that required an IV. I lived. Beyond that, I really wasn't fazed by it at all. So, I decided the next time the opportunity to donate presented itself I was in. That came about this Sunday as the Blood Mobile parked itself in our snowy church parking lot. We spent the morning talking about living a life that counts. We told the starfish story - person throws one of millions of beached starfish back into the sea and says - It matters to that one.

I hesitated on my way out of the church and then just felt really silly that it had taken me 11 years already and another day could not be wasted. So, I did it. It seemed to take a while to draw the blood out, not sure if that was because the bag wasn't agitating or because I was intentionally trying to slow my nervous heart down. I realize that by the nature of my profession I live a life that counts, but there are still many ways that I can make my life count for more. Blood donation is free and takes very little time. It has become to me like donating my hair. I have the ability to grow hair at a fairly fast rate, so when it is long enough I cut it off and donate it to folks who've lost their hair to chemo or disease and grow it out again. It occurs to me now that I have the same ability with blood. I have healthy blood and the ability to reproduce it. It seems downright selfish not to share my hair and blood with those who need it. I hope you would consider doing the same. You'll never know the lives you change/save but one day it could be your own.

More feminist then I think?

Or is the world still more sexist (or other -ist) then I want to believe. Where are the people who are creating systems that continue to make certain groups into second class? Are they oblivious or are they like the Disney illustrators who sneak the word sex into the dust of the Lion King?

My fiancé received a speeding ticket last weekend. As I've not gotten a ticket in quite some time I was interested to see this quickly printed document no bigger then a receipt. Among the identifying information name, address, etc was the expected Sex: but unexpected was the answer rather than M, the ticket read Sex: 1

Now assuming the officer recognized my fiancé as male and/or took that information off his driver's license then 1 apparently represents male. Which would lead me to believe 2 is female. But is there a 3? I'd like to be Sex: 52 if you don't mind. This is a case in which my typically supportive of women's rights fiancé thinks I become ridiculous - but I don't. Why is male 1? Is 1 and 2 really easier or more cost efficient in this completely electronic system then M and F? California (and other) sports systems may be going to a no winner sports system for kids to bolster self esteem, but in the real world someone gets the Gold -someone is number 1 and 2nd place is the first loser. It is bad enough that the words themselves female/woman are derived from male/man, but to continue by applying numbers us?

I am not shocked when I hear that Mississippi is canceling prom so 2 girls won't go together and one of them wear pants. Cause God forbid a woman wears pants in 2010! I'm just sad. Sad when people don't understand how little things like Sex:1 do matter because they represent a larger ill that continues to penetrate our society.