Bruce, I agree that 'conditioning' has a lot to do with it. Conditioning to hardship, pain, and suffering as well as to death - and understanding that they are natural and common human events, allows one to accept and endure all manner of trauma.

I saw my first dead man when I was 17 years old. He died before my eyes, at my feet when he was thrown during a car smash. Even then, I had an understanding that dismemberment or disability and death were a possible consequence in life.
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