How Not to Give Blood

Photo courtesy of freeimages.com It is 9:00 AM and I will leave in about forty minutes to drive to the community center. My palms are sweaty and my toes are cold. Yes, I am nervous.

When the lady from Virginia Blood Services called two weeks ago to ask if I could donate blood, I marked the calendar, in a heat of passion in wanting to help others, with the date and time. I've given blood many times, but it's always a matter of getting past one part of the process. And that part terrifies me.

I...