Hungry?

Someone had asked me if I have an affinity for getting along with
people. My response was that by being categorically human, that yes I
did indeed have an affinity for relating to other human's. Then of
course you have to realize that humans are socially motivated and if I
did not in fact relate to other humans I may not be a human myself.
This was not the answer they were looking for. Instead, they wanted to
know if I liked them simply because I find other people likable in
general or if it was because they were special. I told them that I
related most to animals, like my dog and left it at that because
really, it is a stupid question.

In other news, sometime last week I went the museum exhibit Body
Worlds with the preserved human beings and their human being parts on
display. I've always taken a scientific approach to the world because
I can understand it and if I can understand it, I can't fear it. But
it was hard for me to restrict a human reaction to these pieces of
worldly matter that once belonged to some person. And while clearly
these people had willfully donated their bodies in the name of science
it was still odd to examine the grey matter of their brains, count the
black spots on their lungs, and compare the sizes of their manly parts
without feeling judgmental.

I've dissected frogs with my mom's kitchen cutlery, a pig named
Will-babe-let, a hairless cat, and who knows what other small,
unfortunate animals. I never experienced a moral conflict since it was
always outweighed by my interest in the science behind the life
systems of these organisms or perhaps the naiveté granted by my
adolescence. The complexity of the body always conflicted with the
vulnerability of its individual systems and I found that fascinating
above all else.

In retrospect the only portion I found slightly unsettling was that of
the little embryos and fetuses hanging out in various states of
development. And possibly also the preserved body of the pregnant lady
with her womb exposed, allowing for a clear view of the nearly full
term baby. It certainly was interesting and done in the name of
science. I'm not certain where I stand on the debate about the start
of life, or the issues of morality, or the implications of religion.
Some people were clearly disturbed and I guess that's their right. And
obviously (hopefully) these babies died of natural or other
uncontrollable causes and their bodies had been willfully donated by
their parents or guardians or whomever had that right.

It also should be noted that plasticnated human muscle looks curiously
like beef jerky and I'm not sure if this was coincidental, but the
museum show room smelled a lot like beef jerky too.

Otherwise, I am not in love today, so that is good. Sometimes I get
caught in a moment and fail to realize the power that certain
circumstances and situations have on my emotional stablility.