Preferential Treatment
She used one of those pain free needles
when she drew my blood at the blood bank,
the same kind that she used
the last time when drawing my blood,
one where you didn’t feel the stick going in.
I asked her where they purchased these needles,
not that I was going to buy any for myself
since I had no desire to draw my own blood,
or from anyone else for that matter.
Did she get them out just for those special donors,
like me, considering myself to be one of the special ones?
It made her smile knowing that she
did a fine job at sticking me with the needle,
being a pro that she was,
and it probably didn’t hurt that I had
large veins, and had gone through
this process many, many times over the years.
Yes, pain free needles, you have to love them.

Come on Down
She wanted to say ‘Come on Down’
as what was said on one of the game shows,
but this wasn’t The Price Is Right.
They did ask you your name,
plus, a host of other questions,

and upon answering the questions correctly,
you passed the test for donating your blood,
and when finished, you might not win any money,
a car, or a trip to some resort island, but instead,
offered some fruit juice, water, plus a few other snacks.

She was the next one in line,
the next contestant at the blood drive,
where everyone was a finalist, each one a winner
as they donated a unit of their blood,
super heroes, saving lives.

There was no aisle for anyone to walk on down,
so ignoring the temptation of saying ‘Come on Down’,
she just said ‘Come on Over’.
It just didn’t have the same effect,
but she had time to work on her own catchphrase.

Arsenic Free Water
Sunday afternoon,
I had a few seconds of boredom
as I waited for my wife and daughter
to get ready before we
went out to eat.
I was so excited by my wait
that I started reading the contents of
my daughter’s bottled water.

I expected to find that
it was caffeine free
and that there were no calories
in the water,
but those statements
were nowhere to be found on the label.
Instead, the label said the water was
arsenic free,
something I always took for granted.

Someday I will read other labels,
but only if I am bored.
Right now, I’ll have a sip
of my daughter’s arsenic free water.
I just hope it is safe from everything else.