Reality Pause

Seven years ago today the twin towers were brought down in an act of aggression. Seven years ago this nation lost many good and courageous men and women. Seven years ago, we as a people lost the greatness that this nation once stood for. The terrorists won in a very real sense.

We now have a big government tracking its citizens. We now live in a world where honest citizens are searched simply because their name matches or closely resembles the name of a suspected terrorist. We have lost the freedoms that our ancestors fought and died for. Our government is telling our heroes that everything they believed in was worthless.

The biggest calamity that we have suffered is the single greatest thing that this nation was built upon. Our nation was fathered and mothered by people from all nations. Immigrants from around the world learning to live with one another. Instead of accepting these people, our government is rounding them up, and kicking them out. Our government is tearing families apart, and we as a people are letting them do so. Shame on us for letting it happen.

Our nation was founded on some very simple truths. The greatest of these is “In God WE trust.” Yes, we believe in equality. Yes, we believe in tolerance. But there is no place for religious intolerance, and no place for atheism in our government. Catholics, Baptists, Mormons, Lutherans, Muslims and every other religion should be able to peacefully pray with one another. All of these beliefs teach tolerance and love for our fellow man. Why do we not follow these beliefs?

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch whose flame

Is imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep ancient lands your storied pomp!” cries she with silent lips.

“Give me your tired your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Emma Lazarus (1849-1887)

It started out innocently. A health fair sponsored by work. Police dog demonstrations, gym, insurance, and corporate sponsor representatives, and the villain in our story, the blood mobile, collecting blood for the Red Cross.

I had never donated blood. For one reason or another, it just never happened. I do not know why I went  to donate. Why was this day any different than any other day? I do not know, but in I went. They had me answer a bunch of questions. Easiest survey I ever took. Tested my blood for iron content (50 whatever that means) and then laid me down on a bed. This is where the problems began. I was wearing a shirt that said, “I’m not dead yet.” Either this shirt saved me (my vote), or was the cause of my problems.

I had them stab my left arm, since I am right handed and did not want to lose the ability to use my right arm. They prepped my arm, and stabbed me. Did not hurt at all. BUT! The lady accidentally pulled the needle out of my arm. Yeah, I fountained blood everywhere! Got on my clothes, the bed, all over her white coat, made a mess! She started screaming for someone to come help, after she stopped my blood flow. They cleaned me up and moved me to a different bed and stabbed my right arm. One arm one stab. They then sucked the blood out of my right arm while they sanitized the first bed. Six minutes 30 seconds is how long it took me to fill up the blood bag. During those six minutes, we all joked about how this was my first time, how much of a mess it made, and the fact that I did not have to clean it up.

So now I am done, I am really thirsty so I go to get a drink of juice. Walked right over, opened the cooler, took out a can, popped it open and drank about half of it. Sat down and… The world began closing in around me.  I knew I was fainting. My memory says that I announced I was fainting and for someone to take my juice. And then everyone was yelling at me to get me to lie down and put my legs up. In actuality I dropped my juice which got their attention. I was a nice shade of green which got them running. I did tell them I was fainting and going to drop my juice, told them about five times, after I had dropped my juice of course. I may have said something before hand, but there is no proof of that. They really were yelling at me. I could not hear anything. They kept telling me not to worry about the juice they got it. I need to lie down and put my legs up. I finally caught on to that part.

They put an ice pack behind my neck, and one on my chest. They made me stay like that for about 10 minutes before they let me sit up. After they took my blood, I was there for another 45 minutes in total. They kept making me drink juice and eat cookies. When I finally went back into work, they almost insisted that they escort me in. I felt a bit less than normal the rest of the day. But what a journal entry that adventure became!

Memorial Day. This is the day for us to remember all those who gave up their life for this country. This is the day for us to remember their sacrifice for us, and for this great nation. I hope everyone takes the time today, during their festivities, to take some time out, to ponder, to thank, and to remember those many great men and women who gave their most valuable posession to the cause. Stay sober. Stay safe. Have fun!