A Visit to the Vampires!

It has been years since I attempted to give blood because the last time I did so was just after my son was born in 1992. I got a notice from the American Red Cross that they couldn't use my contribution and that I was banned from giving blood until further notice because my "liver enzyme" count was high. At the time I had no idea what that meant. However, years later, after I was diagnosed with a necrotic gallbladder and had to have emergency gallbladder surgery because my liver was near shutting down, we learned what sent those liver enzyme levels soaring. After I was rid of that nasty little sucker, and gave my liver a couple of years to regenerate from the damage, I was cleared to give blood again.

It actually felt good to pass all the testing and to get up on that table and hold my arm out to be stuck. I have B+ blood type which is one of the rarer ones, so that made me feel even better about it. Knowing that my blood will give someone else a chance at life is the greatest reward! 

The Rape

Sleep on and hear nothing.
Black Gold, Texas Tea.
Sleep on while outside Mama cries.
Mama screams.
Sleep on and see nothing.
Mama bleeds.
Sleep on and feel nothing.
Mama struggles, Mama chokes.
Be the silent partner,
while outside,
Mama dies.

© copyright K. Lynette Erwin, 2014

Mag 208

We Reserve the Right to Be Stupid, Ignorant, Bigots

Since the recent decisions by U.S. Federal Court judges in several states, including Utah and Oklahoma that have struck down those states' constitutional bans on same-sex marriage, several other states including Kansas, Idaho, Tennessee, and Arizona are in a panic over the "religious freedom" of their states' business owners and service providers. This fear of the gay onslaught has launched a series of legislative measures and bills that would allow business owners and other kinds of service providers including in some cases, hospitals, pharmacies, police officers, fire protection, lawyers, and public service providers, to refuse service to LGBT persons and/or couples for the reason that providing such service violates their religious freedom.

The burning question for me is, why are people just now panicking over this? Did they not realize that they were serving members of the LGBT community all along? And if so, did they feel that in serving gay/lesbian/transgender persons, that their religious freedom was being violated or is this another trumped-up crisis created to instill more fear?

On a personal level, this is not only insulting, but it's embarrassing. Come on people! How stupid does it get and how low are we going to sink? All I can say is that if Oklahoma enacts similar legislation and businesses in my community start shutting us out, I'll just shake the dust off of my feet and go someplace else. I'm sure I'll find another business where my filthy lesbian money spends just as well as anyone's.