And all I got was this lousy leech
I was at a fete at the weekend (reviewed here) and one of the stalls was the Blood Bikes and I'm not going to get mad about this country and how such an important service (see also: air ambulance, lifeboats) is run by a charity and volunteers.
Anyway, they were very lovely and chatted and had one of their motorbikes for people to sit on. I was reminded of the texts telling me which hospitals all over the country my blood has been distributed to. Some of which may have been transported on one of these: the closest I will ever get to riding on a motorcycle.
As soon as I turned seventeen I went along with my mum to her next donation session. Next time I go will be my seventieth. Blood type: bog standard.
My mum has always been a regular donor and obviously that has massively shaped my perception of the whole thing. I see it as my civic duty, a bit like voting. Just a very routine thing. My siblings are not fond of needles and blood so they have never donated.
Obviously there's lots of reasons people can't give blood or can't go regularly and such. I'm a fan but it's zero judgement on others.
It's far easier and more relaxed than anyone who'd never been might think. I trip along happily every time to offer up my arm, now with something of a target in the crook of my elbow, sixty-nine tiny scars. That's not true, it's sixty-eight, one time I had a brain fart and sat on the wrong chair and gave from my right arm. Which doesn't really matter. I do not do any of the exciting hobbies they ask about, or operate heavy machinery. The worst of it is I need to go to bed about an hour earlier that day.
It's a nice sort of community also. I only go four times a year so you would think I was anonymous but there's a nurse I talk to about her garden and one who is also a DM and we chat about D&D. I used to think I was being discreet checking how quickly I could get done (when I was young it was sub-five minutes, these days it's more six-and-a-half) but now they always tell me my time so I seem to have gained a reputation. The other people donating are often up for a little chat, which is good for me. It's easy because we are all there doing this same thing so that's a ready-made topic right there.
Was joking with a friend calling it bloodletting and made us this silly badge.
If you're in the UK you can find out more from NHS Blood.