9. Blood Drive

Sunday was the Red Cross blood drive. At the last business meeting, it was suggested that people come down to help. I decided to do that.

The drive was to begin at 9:00, so I arrived around then. I went into the kitchen where I found Ken, the Junior Warden. He was in charge of the drive. I asked him if I could help.

He was preparing beef stew to feed donors and everyone else. He accepted my offer. I imagine I could have done something else if I met someone else. I did not know what helping out at the blood drive entailed. I just wanted to participate.

I became Ken’s sous-chef. I peeled potatoes, chopped onions, cut and trimmed the beef, and helped sauté the beef. Ken observantly noticed my ability to cook messily. Honest, I will do better. And I will clean up after myself.

The blood drive got off to a bad start because of the furnace. It stopped working sometime overnight. Blood cannot be taken unless ambient temperature reaches 59 degrees. That is a Red Cross rule.

The Red Cross considered moving to the town hall. The logistics of that were impractical, so they waited to see if the furnace could be fixed. A furnace repair man arrived and  got it going, and the temperature eventually reached proper level. No blood was drawn till after 11:00. A handful of prospective donors left, therefore, but a decent group remained through the day.

A handful of Masons attended. Some greeted arriving donors, some I presume donated, and others, I am guessing, just came to hang out. A Boy Scout troop was on hand to help.

My own duties were anything but onerous. The cooking was not stressful like the breakfast is, it was not to order. When the stew was done, we served it to whoever wanted some. Ken made plenty because leftovers could feed attendees to the business meeting that evening.

I did some dishwashing, using the dishwasher. I used an industrial dishwasher years ago, while in high school. I barely remembered how it worked. I did some clean up then left at 2:30, feeling guilty about having left my wife on Valentine’s Day. Things were quiet, but Ken had been there since 6:00.

At 6:00 pm, I returned for Cipher Training. This time, I dressed casually. There were 4 candidates from Thomas Talbot plus 2 from the Lodge in Tewksbury. I do not know why people outside TTL venture here. Well, I understand that there is a lot of interchange and sharing among Lodges.

I really like the enveloping symbolism of Freemasonry. I am reminded of tarot cards, because every detail is meaningful. In saying that, I do not want to equate Freemasonry with tarot.

Cipher training helps explain the ritual through which we went. Andy and Chris and a past Master who is now Marshal led the training. I am getting better at reading the cipher. The cipher is basically a mnemonic to help you recall the  rituals that you have been through.

I attended  the business meeting afterwards. The Masons have a CHPs program, child identification, which I will volunteer for. I will probably also join Thomas Talbot Cooks. Other Lodges hire TTL cooks to prepare meals. Lodges pay for the service and it is, like the breakfast, a way to add to Thomas Talbot’s coffers.

This coming Monday is another Lodge of Instruction.