I filled out the forms, laid on my back, and maybe saved lives by giving double platelets this afternoon. After babysitting my granddaughter this morning, having lunch with my son, and donating blood I’ve had one of my more productive days of retirement. We had considered going to the Mote Aquarium in Sarasota for “Tourist Thursday,” but there was no time, even though the rain would have made it an ideal indoor activity. We’ll save it for another day.

Halloween is just around the corner, but there will be no more blood drawn for me this year, with the three month waiting period between donations. I do however have a doctor’s appointment next week where blood tests will certainly be conducted. I’m already concerned about my systolic blood pressure at 166. There is no reason why it should be this high considering medication and very little stress. I did happily volunteer as opposed to being drug into the bloodmobile by thirsty vampires.

With the need to get to my son’s house early this morning, I did shorten my run to the minimum mile. My granddaughter was still in bed when I got there at 8 a.m., so I only spent a couple of hours alone with her. She was not particularly demanding, content with watching Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. (See Post #1790). There was only one moment of panic when she announced “poop” in the bedroom. She helped me pick it up and did not seem embarrassed. This was before I figured out it belonged to her puppy Mango. Poop in the morning…blood in the afternoon. What a day!