a toast, to better things. to happiness, and good health.  to a life of comfort and grace.  to real, albeit few, friendships.  to opportunities that will knock like crazy. to success, and even a feel of love.  maybe not love itself, but something almost akin to it.  to new acquaintances and renewal of old ones.  to diplomacy and regal bearing. to simplicity in the midst of splendor and all my grandiose illusions about life. to truthfulness to myself and those around me.  to perseverance and kindness.  to understanding, and patience, and bearing it all, reasonably.

a toast to a freer view of life and things. a broader perspective, an accommodating mind.  lesser sad moments, lesser pitiful longings. lesser evil, more good.

devotion to the Divine and all that it entails.  a toast to my God, for everything, for all things that has happened.  A toast to pious dedication.

A toast to family. A prayer for understanding. A prayer for love and forgiveness.

A toast  to life itself, for happening to me in such a good way.

And finally, A toast to me, for writing this, and actually, really, truly meaning and feeling it.