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A recurring theme over the past several months has snagged more than a few headlines:

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. This has particular meaning to me because 11 years ago when I married my dear wife Beth, I gained not only an incredible wife but also an equally incredible Down syndrome brother-in-law named Danny. Coincidentally, Danny had been a patient of mine in urgent care for a number of years before I met Beth. I always enjoyed seeing him back then as I had a special affection for those with this genetic disorder.

EDITOR,

One of the more memorable experiences of my law school days occurred on the first day of Criminal Law. We students sat, thoroughly intimidated, in the huge lecture hall as our nationally renowned professor introduced himself. In the middle of that introduction, however, a woman ran onto the stage crying melodramatically for help. A few seconds later, another woman appeared chasing the first woman around and around the stage. Finally, the pursuer yelled, “Eat lead you dirty dog,” pulled out a cap pistol and fired about 20 shots at the first woman. After firing all of her caps, she ran off stage, all the while laughing maniacally. Meanwhile the first woman stumbled around for a few minutes pretending to die with 20 slugs in her. When she finally expired, a couple of students dragged her off by the feet and our professor resumed his lecture.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting my healthy 95-year-old aunt Grace, and then I thought about my 97-year-old neighbor Vic, and it made me realize just how amazing the human body is to keep functioning for so many years. I am awestruck by this body of ours that began with just two microscopic cells coming together and developing into a complex living organism made up of some 75 trillion cells, many of which have specialized to perform amazing functions, making us the incredible beings that we are.

Harvest is fast approaching, and it is certainly the most exciting time of year in the world of the vintner.