Zen of the Rat Ripping

I remember Dr. P grabbing ahold of a pigeon and cracking open the rib cage. I was in awe. My lab partner and I were gently probing it with our dissection needle. The idea of touching it seemed crazy.

Yesterday I found myself cracking open the rib cage of a rat. It didn't seem crazy to me, but one of my students seemed to be shocked that I'd touch the thing.

Isn't it strange how you just become habituated to things? If you do something long enough, it becomes natural to you.