Every two months or so I take an hour out of my day and donate blood. I won't turn this article into a ideological soapbox, so I'll get to the meat of the story.
For those of you who have never donated, here is a little background. The donation center has a little canteen stocked with sodas, doughnuts, crackers, and various other goodies. These are provided to the donors to get their blood sugar up and prevent fainting. This morning after donating my pint and getting my bright hot-pink bandage/badge of courage, I sat down in the canteen with two other doners and prepared myself to indulge in some coke and peanut butter crackers. The three of us made small talk about how important donation is, our plans for the 4th of July, you know, benign conversation. Or so I thought..
The gentleman sitting next to me was in his mid to late 50's, shock white hair, protruding gut and a little donor sticker on his shirt. But I noticed he didn't have the signature neon bandage that all donors wear after giving. I wasn't going to press the issue. This man began to talk to me. I had mentioned I am going to Georgia for the weekend to spend the holiday with my fiances extened family. He exclaimed "oh your getting married! How exciting. I want to come to the wedding. Will you invite me?" I said to myself "huh?!? I have never laid eyes on this man before in my life and he is inviting himself to my wedding?" He then handed me his name, phone number and email addres. All of this happened in the space of 2 minutes.
Cue music "How Bizarre".
Then he began rambling about how he was considered handsome in his day, and both his wives were just money diggers. Apparently doctors attract those kinds of women, at least according to this guy. He also told me a little more about his sex life than I ever wanted to know. Ever. Nothing graphic, but it just isn't a conversation you have with a 24 year old woman in the canteen of the red cross. Unless your Ted Bundy or something...
Oh I wish the peculilarties ended there. But sadly, there is more. He began a story about how he used to be a doctor and had retired after 23 years of practicing medicine. Then he said he wants to join the Navy and go to war. And if he can't get into the Navy he wants to either be a police officer/detective or work for the CIA. He seemed surprised the Navy didn't want to take him. I don't think it was his qualifications that are keeping him out of the service, but rather his raving luncay. Very very strange. His speech was very hard to understand, not quite slurred, but he spoke with an uneven tone that made following him difficult. I couldn't get out of there fast enough! I'm sure he was harmless, but I must say that was the weirdest experience I have had in a very long time.
