Monday, 2Aug10, REST DAY, Newark, DE
Blood fact: “RBC’s, red blood cells carry oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues.”
Can you believe it? It’s actually a REST DAY … and … I have time to catch up on washing clothes, writing notes, and maybe even get a haircut … also I’ll try to get in a bicycle ride to maintain the legs.
Last night I stayed at the Fairfield Inn-Marriott … and … I’m looking forward to visiting with the Blood Bank of Delmarva staff, their donors and thanking them for all the amazing compassionate service they accomplish in saving lives!
To give you an idea of what the blood centers do at their blood drives:
- Blood Bank of Delmarva on 3 Aug 2010
- 10-11:30AM Employees & Donors Mobile blood drive at Terumo
- Noon to 1pm Reception at Christiana Donor Center speak briefly and tell your story to our leadership team, some staff members, and some top donors
- Terumo makes the bags which hold the blood which is donated.
Today I’ll be trying catch up on some reading and planning out the next week of blood center visits (enter the addresses into my new Garmin) to help me find each hotel and blood center … as I travel down the East coast, on my way to Sarasota and St. Petersburg, FL.
Since I have a chance to slow down today and catch my breath … it’s gratifying to me to see how many really loving, kind, giving people I meet who are donors … these are Americans who take the time out of their busy days and come to the blood center or a blood drive with the sole purpose of giving of themselves in an effort to save someone else or least give them a 2nd chance at their life. (It doesn’t have to be trauma victims … it may be donating for those who have need for platelets, plasma, double reds(RBC’s) or even WBC’s … for cancer, burn, or other medical challenges!)
I guess the best words to describe “donors” is: “selfless” … they (each one) literally give a piece of themselves … a piece of their heart and their life … and … then the blood center “staff” wrap it up with love and compassion … so when the “recipients” (like myself) recieve it … it truly is their “gift of life” to us!
I want to once again … say “thank you” with all my heart to these amazing blood donors … and … to each of the blood centers “staff” who work tirelessly to make sure that the recipients recieve a “safe, yet, available” gift of life! (Thank you, thank you, and Thank you!)
In case, you didn’t know it … because of the two page questionaire and the 14+ Federally mandated blood “tests” to check for many types of blood borne diseases … the blood supply in America is probably at the safest level it’s ever been … and … believe me, that is a good thing!
Talk to you later ….
Well, it’s later and I had a great REST day … I went for a 20 mile ride … from my hotel on 58W to the corner of 37 where WaWa is located then left to Hiway 141 over to Newcastle and then down to the old historic New Castle where all the fame of William Penn began early in the American history … see Facebook photos ….
I stopped at Dunkin Donuts for some “ice” for my water bottles … when I left there I saw a New Castle policeman and flagged him down for a photo … it was Ptlm. John Donmoyer … who was nice enough to call Corporal T. Donlon (who is a blood donor) and they allowed me to take a couple of pictures with them. While we were there the owner of the Dunkin Donuts and his son came over and took a picture with us.
The officers told me how to get to the old historic Colonial section of New Castle, DE, and I went down there for a visit and ended up meeting Larry and Carole when I asked them to take a picture of me with the old Courthouse in the background. (they had just met through Match.com … that was amazing!)
Then I met two more young ladies who helped me take a picture of the old episcopalian church … their names was Kaissa (Kaa-sha) and Keissa (Kee-sha) from Kansas, who were best friends from college and visiting the area for a week.
Later I met Jonathan Cochran who was a tri-athlete and also a local contractor of plumbing, heating and air conditioning … he told me that Hiwy 9 was the best training for hills in the area. (I didn’t tell him that I hate climbing hills …. because he was so nice!)
The NCPD officers called and said their bicycle officer was on the way to meet me at the Courthouse … but after 15-20 minutes I figured she must have gotten a call and I had to get back … so I left … Sorry about that!
Then later I still had some time left and I went to a local laundromat and caught up on washing clothes… Thank Goodness!
After that … Dave Bonk from Blood Bank of Delmarva came to visit with me at the laundromat and then took me to dinner where we met their marketing/PR team of Mary (whom I remember from 14 years ago … she said they had just watched a video of our 1st visit back in 1996) … also there were Carrie and Kelly … it was a wonderful dinner and I even tried to encourage the waitress to give blood … especially when she said she was scared of needles! We had a nice visit and after dinner Dave drove me over to the blood center so I would know where to go in the morning.
All in all … it was a beautiful day … and … they even said the local press ran a nice article in the paper today.
Once again … I want to thank God for the many blessings that seem to be continually pouring upon Life Across America 2010 …
See you tomorrow … if you get a chance, check out the Facebook photos …