No blood for you

I am a strong spirit.
I have always hated being told what to do.
And more than being told what to do,
i really--i mean really
hate being told what i can't do.

Being raised as the only girl in a house full of boys, I never knew that there where things i shouldn't/couldn't do because i was a girl. I never let being a girl stop me from doing anything a boy could do.In fact i loved to prove people wrong--just because i could.

Tonight however, I found out that no matter what i want--

--I am no longer able to give blood.--
I am being told i can't.
It doesn't matter that i haven't given blood in many, many years--

just the idea that if i wanted to

and knowing i would be turned away makes me a tad bit sad.

I had heard that if you lived overseas during a certain time period in the 80's-90's you no longer could donate--but i had never actually checked on it myself--until tonight. Sure enough--having lived on a military base in Germany for more than sixth months has disqualified me from donating ever again. Never mind the fact that i don't smoke or drink and have never used any drugs---Or that i was the one friend that was trusted enough to do a direct donation when my girlfriends daughter was having brain surgery years ago. No matter that i had given several gallons before i started having babies and was too busy being a mom to donate.

Now it is not an option...

Something so selfless and easy and yet I can no longer be part of this club.

It is one thing to choose not to

--on your own volition--

another to have the choice made for you.....