Could You Cut Your Arm Off?

Could you cut your own arm off if you were pinned by a boulder?

This was a recent discussion My Special Man Friend ("MSMF") and I had in bed the other night.

MSMF: "Could you cut your own arm off?"

Me: "Are you talking about that hiker guy that got pinned by a boulder and had to chew his own arm off?"

MSMF: "Yeah. But he didn't chew it off. He cut it off."

Me: "Yeah I totally could. Would you?"

MSMF: "I don't think I could."

Me: "Dude but you're going to die if you don't."

MSMF: "Yeah... I don't think I could."

Me: "Not only would there be the immediate threat of dying but I'd think about my Mom or the most important people in my life that I'd never see again unless I did it. That's how I'd get through it."

MSMF: "So think about you and Jaja?"

Me: "Yeah. It's like motivation or finding a will to live."

MSMF: "I think I'd still wait to be found."

Me: "So what did happen exactly? How was he found?"

MSMF: "I think he called out for help but when things got serious he drank his own pee and cut his arm off."

Me: "So how was he found?"

MSMF: "I think on a path nearby."

Me: "God, then why didn't he just keep calling out for people to hear him if he was found that easily?"

MSMF: "I don't think it was that close by."

Me: "Hmm."

So it turns out Aron Ralston had to make his way through the canyon he was pinned in, rappel down a 65 foot drop, and hike 7 miles to get to safety. That's after being pinned for 6 days and cutting off his own arm! I'm sure the delirium helped but man, facing cutting off your own arm is not something I would even want to dream about let alone have to do.

MSMF and I have such wonderful pillow talk. Pleasant dreams!