We\'re number 1...We\'re number 1

As I was watching the local early news I was surprised to see the asthma specialist that I had been seeing at the Washington University Lung Center being interviewed. Of course, this really grabbed my attention so I paid rapt attention to the interview. It turns out that St.Louis had just been named the number 1 asthma capital of the country for 2009. We had jumped up 8 spots from our position at number 9 in 2008.  Welll...having your home town and your doc being featured prominently in the news is pretty heady stuff. It took a joint effort from man and nature to make this happen. It was a combination of high pollen levels, bad air quality and the lack of meaningful "no smoking" laws for public buildings that contributed to our recent surge. I can't help but feel overcome in waves of civic pride...or did I just open a window? At any rate, a wave of some sort did come over me. I also can't help but think that I helped put us over the top in some small way. It's nice to know that my 2 years of trying to hack up a lung count for something.  Of course this is not the first time we have been honored recently. We are still number 1 in STD's... and during the 2006 World Series between St.Louis and Detroit both cities involved in the fall classic were named 1-2 in murders per capita. (St.Louis was number 2...but somehow I don't mind. Besides, we won the series).  To be honest, I don't know how many honors this old boy can put up with. I'd go and become a hermit and live in a cave on a mountain somewhere but I'd probably be allergic to mountain goats and cave dust...besides the TV reception would probably stink.  Soo, I guess I'll stay put ...only please...no more honors. Be well,Tom