“Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.”
- Will Rogers

This past Saturday morning I was leaving the house to donate blood in New Windsor. At the last second, I grabbed a cup of coffee to drink on the way, apparently a bit of a no-no when you’re about to give blood. But, it was delicious, as usual. I guzzled a little bit of water on my way in the door at the American Legion Hall (to dilute the coffee!), checked in, did the screening, and quickly found myself in position for the Red Cross technician to start the donation. She did, and just as quickly, my initial stream of blood stopped. She tried a few things, but then realized it just wasn’t going to happen. When she unhooked me, she saw that my blood had clotted in the tube, clogging it, making getting any more impossible. I was slightly concerned, but she assured me that it’s not a bad thing and I was probably just a bit dehydrated. “Have you had coffee, tea or alcohol?” she asked. Whoops. Those things apparently can dehydrate you.

So, that’s why you don’t drink coffee before you donate blood. The good news is that I don’t have to wait the whole 56 days to give again, so I’ll find another local drive in a couple weeks, drink a ton of water (and not coffee) before I go, and happily give. And I’ll remember the above quote!

I want to talk about two other things today, too.

First, did you know that there is such a thing as National Voter Registration Day? It’s a non-partisan civic holiday celebrating our democracy. Celebrated this year on September 17th, organizations from all over the country will partner to create a broad awareness of voter registration opportunities.

On that day, at the Cornwall Public Library you can examine (outside of the Study Room) voter registration information from Orange County. Learn how to register, request mail-in ballots, about early voting options and more.

And, at The Center of Highland Falls, you can register to vote any Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

So, are you registered? Is your registration correct? Early voting in New York will start on October 26 – you’ll probably want to double check any concerns you have before then. If you visit orangecountygov.com/783/Board-of-Elections you’ll find a tool to check your registration, you’ll learn how to become a poll worker, learn how to get an absentee ballot if you need it and more. Sit down, grab a cup of coffee (well, not if you’re giving blood!), and check it out!

Lastly today, let me just mention what I heard someone call “America’s Greatest Nightmare” the other day.

Gun violence, particularly in public settings like schools hit too close to my life this past week. I was so saddened by the death of the two teachers and two students in Georgia, and then my parents were at a high school football game in West Virginia and there were shots fired outside the stadium. They seemed perfectly calm; I was not.

America, we must do better. We have to figure out how to keep guns out of the hands of those with social, emotional and mental issues, and, especially, of kids. We just have to.