Body World

I've been meaning to post about my trip to Body World: The story of the human heart. What an experience! I first heard of this in my anatomy class a few years back. I went on a whim after seeing it advertised its opening week. It was so cool! I thought I would be grossed out. But to see real human bodies was breathtaking. I kept thinking it was some sort of Hollywood trick. The beauty of our bodies is amazing. The difference between a male and female body (besides the obvious) what I mean to say is after seeing the first full female plastination figure, there was a different fluidity to the muscle structure that was very graceful. I'm having a hard time finding the worlds to describe my feelings in seeing this exhibit, so I'll just let things flow.

I've done a lot of thinking after seeing it about the respect God expects to have for our bodies. Its pretty basic. Take care of our bodies and they will take care of us. Its a beautiful place for our soul to be. Again proof for me that he asks very little of us for something so grand. It makes me want to make sure I do the things I need to do to keep my self healthy. After seeing some of the things that can happen to the body if not well loved.

This machine so to say, is capable of so many things, its some thing that I use everyday to express my love to my child and husband through touch, hugs and kisses, its the muscles, ligaments, bones and tendons in my hands and arms that allow me to sew and create, it was the safe haven for my unborn child, the blessing it was to experience the growth of my baby inside was beautiful. To feel her movements and know I was entrusted to protect something so precious inside of me blows my mind. And to see that process from the inside was amazing. To know that my body knew how to do everything it needed to create this little person that is now the best thing in my life. (no, I only saw pictures of pregnant platinationed figures from other exhibits, there was none at this show. Still cool though.)

After seeing some of the hardships that can happen to the body weither pre-excisting or brought on by them selfs was hard to see. There wasnt' a lot of deformities. But to be the person to have to deal with something like Socoliocs, I dont' know how I would deal. And seeing things like the lungs of smoker's and Livers of heavy drinker's made me wonder how could someone decide to bring that damage upon them selves. ( I know I can find someone with their good reasons why they started doing either activity, but we'll avoid that converstaion) Like I said before this made me feel like I really needed to get a move on the take care of this body of mine.

It was facsinating to see all the blood vessels in the shape of hands, feet and heads. (they acomplised that by pumping the vessels with a plastic and then removing the surrounding tissue) voice boxes, the bodies tinyiest bone from the ear, an anthlete's heart next to a normal one, the criss-crossing of ligaments, muscles, bones and tendons in the arms and legs, the power of the stomic muscles in figures that were posed in action, the main organ of the body neatly packed in the torso.

oops. Baby's calling..gotta go. But if you do get a chance to go this exhibit is well worth the price. I have a hard time thinking about the human body the same way, i.e. I went to the Dr's last month and kept thinking about the tiny bones in my ears as he checked them and the lungs as he checked my breathing. Visit www.bodyworlds.com for info or www.theleonardo.org

What a cool thing, these bodies are.