Sent Away to Eat Spinach

I have absolutely no idea what to write about today. I know that there must be tons of stuff to write about and yet for the life of me I can’t think of anything witty and urbane to discuss. Could it be that I haven’t done anything exciting today that tickled me enough to write about? That just doesn’t seem possible. Perhaps I had better choose something from yesterday …

Yesterday, my birthday if you remember, I tried to give blood. I hadn’t known that there would be a blood drive but after my Pilates class I noticed that there was a blood drive going on upstairs. I looked at my watch and decided that I had just enough time to give blood before my birthday lunch if I forwent my shower (I decided that blood donation trumped shower). I filled out the paperwork (glad that I had my reading glasses on me … I can’t believe how quickly I have become dependent on them) and went over to the screening area all the while joking with the staff (it is the same people all the time). I was a little worried that my blood pressure would be too high as I had just exercised but I never would have guessed that I would be denied for … anemia! Yes, me, who as a point of pride has never been turned away from a blood donation for low iron was turned away for just that, and not just low iron, actual anemia!! I was floored. I have always tested as having super iron rich blood. I know that many women get turned away from donating because of low iron but I have never been one of them. I asked whether if I had red meat and leafy greens at lunch it would help but they told me that it would take at least 3 weeks for my levels to come back. Three weeks!!

All of this, and my birthday, have inspired me to 1) be diligent about taking my vitamins (I really suck at that) and 2) review and improve my diet to add iron-rich foods (I bought spinach today and some red meat too!). I am due for my annual physical so I will put it off for a couple of weeks and let you know what the result is.

And if there is anyone out there who would like to donate in my place I would really appreciate it. It is a small thing that we can do but you could save someone’s life today.

Have a super terrific and wonderful iron-rich day!

Ella


PS I did a ton of stuff today all boring and time consuming and necessary (except lunch with a fellow coach which was great) but I want you to know that I did actually accomplish my list today including exercising :)