Targeting the Regulars

Last year, I wrote about my experience of giving blood for the first time. I read it again in the process of preparing the 2022 zine – and it made me think about what has happened since. You may remember how genuinely terrible the blood donation folks were at welcoming me, a newcomer. It was clear they were set up for regulars. As soon as I donated, the one time, it was clear that I was now a regular in the system’s eyes. Whereas, before I donated I never heard anything about blood donation, now that I was a regular, I hear from the blood center several times a month. I get more messages and phone calls from the blood people than I get from my family and friends. It’s wild. Having donated one single time, I, along with anyone else who’s donated, am expected to solve the citywide blood shortage. I suppose they figure they got blood out of you once, they’re going to get it to happen again. And I will say, I would like to donate again. I really do want to help. It will happen eventually. But the more they harass me, the more guilt trips they employ, the less likely I become to respond. This may work with some people but for me, the surest way to get me to drag my feet in calling someone back is to call multiple times or say something like, “I need you to call me back right away.” I mean – I’ll probably call you back eventually but it’s going to be a long long while. The blood folks have triggered my foot dragging self and none of us are pleased about it. To read more of Targeting the Regulars visit the Songs for the Struggling Artist blog. This is Episode 349 Song: Blood Makes Noise Image by Yunus Tug via UnSplash To support this podcast: Give it 5 stars in Apple Podcasts. Write a nice review! Rate it wherever you listen or via: https://ratethispodcast.com/strugglingartist Join my mailing list: www.emilyrainbowdavis.com/ Like the blog/show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongsfortheStrugglingArtist/ Support me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/emilyrdavis Or help me get to Crete on Kofi: http://ko-fi.com/emilyrainbowdavis or PayPal me: https://www.paypal.me/strugglingartist Follow me on Twitter @erainbowd Me on Mastodon - @[email protected] Me on Hive - @erainbowd Instagram and Pinterest Tell a friend! Listen to The Dragoning here (it's my audio drama) and support via Ko-fi here: https://ko-fi.com/messengertheatrecompany As ever, I am yours, Emily Rainbow Davis