There's a strange subtlety to being in the right place at the right time, I'm learning. The subtle part is that you have to go and do stuff; my case in point was yesterday afternoon's trek over to the Red Cross' Ann Arbor Donor Center, where I left a pint of O+. Afterwards, once the tape had been ripped from my hairy forearms, I was introduced to Liz Cobbs at the cookie table. The result: an Ann Arbor News story that includes why I give blood. It seems odd that I'd be in the paper, but then again if you get out there and put yourself in enough places in time, I suppose the odds of this sort of thing happening are higher.

In the meantime, please give blood. It takes less than an hour, doesn't hurt, and will save somebody's life. We're not talking about, like, it 'will help them get a good job' or it 'will help them get a house.' Giving blood will help them not die. You get cookies, a sticker, probably a t-shirt, and a good feeling. Somebody whose life depends on it gets blood. The shortage is chronic and urgent, especially in the summer, so please donate today because somebody just like you might not be able to wait until tomorrow.