the whooping cough and other life-ailments...

So I just realized today that over the past week and a half I have very (well, mostly) comfortably slipped into the life of a hermit. Acute, obnoxious sicknesses that cause everyone to flee from the mere sight of you has surprising perks. I went out with Christina last night, my first social interaction in a week and a half. She was willing (actually, desperate) to hang since she is also ill with a super-virus. We met up at the university pond with the intention of walking around a bit, but by the time we'd walked about 20 feet we both laid down on the ground, completely exhausted. So we lay there for about an hour comparing symptoms and chatting about life. It was great. :D

But back to my original thought...I can't believe how un-bored I've been, mostly confined to my dorm. I think of myself as a pretty social creature most of the time, and I honestly do love people; I find them completely fascinating, and LOVE making new acquaintances. Yet at the heart of me, I think I am rather solitary. I love my own company; I love being away from distraction and rediscovering my inner dialogue and thoughts...and I am starting to sound way too pompous. :)

So Gina and Jenny visited me today! I was driving back from the district library, when I realize Gina called me and left a message saying "you have a half hour to call me back before you become the biggest loser on the planet" (or something to that effect). So I call her, and practically cause an accident on Huron River Drive when she says she's 20 minutes away from my dorm, and wants to take me out to dinner. It was awesome; the kind of surprise so good, even I hadn't thought to wish for it.

So I am signed up to donate blood on October 8.
I am terrified.
I do realize people do this all the time (and survive); it's something that I greatly admire and have always wanted to do. I just have a little, teeny, so-slight-it's-practically-Twiggy issue with people extracting fluids necessary for my continued survival. And yes, I know I have plenty extra. But besides the fact that the Red Cross is giving out free t-shirts to donars, this quote I have on my wall keeps sticking rather inconveniently in my head: "Do one thing every day that scares you." Darn that Eleanor Roosevelt! But yet shall I be brave. (However, if I do not survive, I expect someone who has read this post to begin an in-depth investigation exposing the Red Cross's gross malpractice, and possibly even reward me with some kind of posthumous peace medal).