Kite Flying and Blood Donating

Concert day today! That means band class was cancelled in order to "save our chops" for the performance (although what do many band people do with their new-found time? Practice. We are a silly bunch of cookies). During what would have been band many of us sat outside the band room in the "band hall," a popular gathering place for all people instrumental (with the occasional vocalist), and talked of pressing matters, such as: our lunches, the silliness of Valentines day, cheered on a crutch-bound cellist who decided to pick up all the garbage (three wrappers) in the hall...with his crutches, what kinds of limitations there are on giving blood, flying kites, and so forth.

Only one of us hadn't really flown a kite before, but there were a few of us (myself included) who had never given blood before. I promised the one that we would have to go fly a kite, and suggested we all have a blood donating party at the next school-wide drive and we could fly kites immediately afterwords. That got some laughs and looks, but my friend and I are still planning on it.

We talked about our blood drive (non) experiences: some weighed too little, others had been out of the country, one had her ears pierced, one had had surgery, another had recent tattoos, or some just general fear. All things preventing the donation of blood during blood drives (one such drive was going on today....Valentines day. Valentines--Vampires... I laugh at the silly irony, but also digress). When another band friend came we asked her if she had ever donated.
"Yup."
"Whaaa?? You have?! Tell us all about it!"

We were educated on "the strange-ness" of it all, and given advice about eating and drinking plenty before/after, not exercising hard for a day or so, the free treats afterwards, and how she hadn't felt well the next day. I told her about our plans of flying kites right after donating and she laughed and said, "okaaay..." and gave us a silly look.

We just smiled and said, "It'll be exciting!"

Reminds me of when we learned about cultural norms in my Sociology class and how people react when someone breaks them. Our book recommended a few to use for experimental purposes (such as facing the other people in an elevator, insisting to pay more than the listed price for something at the store, over-dressing for regular everyday activities, etc.). I could hardly keep back my giggles as the possible reactions of people ran through my mind. The rest of the class was having giggling problems, too.

We got the same norm-breaking looks from our plans. Harmless, legal norm-breaking is fun!

Have some fun today and break a cultural norm (as long as you are not breaking the law or causing harm/hurt to yourself or anyone else). Stay safe and laugh lots!

-The BandNeeek