Friday, May 27, 2011

We Aim for Pain


I donate blood on a regular basis. In some countries, donors are compensated for their blood, but in Canada we give it without any thought of recompense beyond the knowledge that we have saved a life. Oh, yes, the coffee and cookies afterward are good too.

So, I reclined in the big, soft easy chair while the phlebotomist searched for a likely vein. I waited for the inevitable stab of the needle, and wasn't disappointed. Still, it wasn't so bad.

"I hope that didn't hurt too much," she apologized as she loosened the tourniquet. I didn't bother to tell her that I was on comfortable terms with pain, so merely said I had hardly felt it.

"That's good," she replied. "I aim for pain-free."

I swear there was a pause between the last two syllables. Isn't that a lovely slogan for a spanker's business card or website?

I Aim for Pain

From Hermione's Heart

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw once:

"Eat lamb, 20,000 coyotes can't be wrong"

-- Karl Friedrich Gauss

Anonymous said...

Great billboard and love the slogan.

Hermione said...

Karl - It's good to see you again! Yes, I like that slogan too.

Joey - Not the Canadian BLood Services billboard, but they might adopt the slogan (with -free added, of course).

Hugs,
Hermione

ronnie said...

A great slogan Hermione and a great billboard.

Phlebotomist, I love that word.

Have a great weekend and thanks for the smiles you've given us this week.

Love,
Ronnie
xx

Daisychain said...

Yes, here in the UK we give it for free too, and the drink and cookies afterwards are nice..lol. The staff always make you feel so valued, special, important, too. Gives me a warm feeling to have maybe made a difference to someone's health...doesn't matter whether I know them...everyone's life is important!
LOve the slogan!!! Well done as always, Hermione! xxxxxxxxxx

Hermione said...

Ronnie - That word is written on their name badges, otherwise I would have called them vein-cutters.

Always my pleasure to laugh about spankings.

Daisy - The staff here emphasize how important your donation is. You never know when you might need blood yourself. And I believe it's free for the recipient too.

Hugs,
Hermione

Erica said...

You're a better person than I, Hermione. As one who has been known to faint while having blood drawn (yes, really), I'm not donating mine any time soon.

jadelyn1975 said...

Hi Hermione, sorry i haven't commented in awhile :-( i deserve a spanking for that hehehe, but as our dear friend Erica had said the blogger is giving lot's of people problem's commenting and i was one of them.That slogan sound's so COOL, i like it :-) I never donated blood before but i would if i had too cause it's nice to help other's it make's me feel good, I am used to lot's of needles anyway cause i have had lots of blood tests and iv's, Hope your doing well take care, Hug's from your friend naughty girl Jade

Kady said...

I love the "aim for pain"; and, it's even free. Wow! Canadians certainly are generous!

Kady

SPANKEDHORTIC II said...

I used to donate blood when I lived in the UK and The Netherlands, where I got no reward for it. Now I live in Belgium, where you get to take the rest of the day off work for free, if you donate blood. But because of medication that I must take, now my blood is poison for other people and I am no longer allowed to donate blood.

Wrote in my diary "Bugger".

Prefectdt

Lea said...

I use to give plasma for cash until they got picky about having people with better veins than mine. I'll still give blood for free though. Always nice when they can stick you on the first try.

Hermione said...

Erica - Once, three people fainted within 1/2 hour at the clinic while I was there. It was a very hot day.

Jade - I'm glad you're back. It sounds like you are very brave and would have no trouble donating blood.

Kady - It's not that I would say no if offered money for my blood. It's always been done for free here.

Prefectdt - Getting the day off sounds like a nice reward. There are many reasons people here are excluded from donating. I will share that list on my blog soon.

Lea - My veins are a challenge too. I know someone who got through college by donating. The money kept him from starving.

Hugs,
Hermione

Anonymous said...

I give pretty often with no problems, except this one time when a buddy of mine went. He's a big bruiser but when the needle went in, he went toes up.

I teased him a great deal. Then when it was my turn the nurse had a hard time finding my vein--felt like she was digging to China. As I fought to keep my eyes from rolling up into my head, I thought--I deserve this....

Anonymous said...

i aim for pain...such a lovely thought...REd

Hermione said...

Mick - The excavations aren't pleasant. And serves you right for teasing your poor friend :)

Red - It would look good on a t-shirt.

Hugs,
Hermione