The 12th Night Toast for 2010

Written by: Bill Sherman on Wednesday, 6 January 2010, 8:42 PM

For the past twelve years, I’ve made 12th Night the most important holiday on my personal calendar. It’s a night when I raise a glass in toast and remember all of the people who have, in one way or another, touched my life.

I spent most of my childhood very sick, and I never thought that I would live to see my eighteenth birthday. Now, my life has been filled with warmth and joy brought by so many different people.

Some people will be present when I raise the glass, but many more friends will be absent. They will be separated by geography or even time. Some friends have passed in the last year, and they will be missed in the years to come.

Therefore, I raise a glass and offer a toast to absent friends tonight. I will do this every January 6th until I myself can no longer raise a glass.

If you have touched my life, then I say thank you. I also encourage you to raise a glass to the people who have influenced you.

• Perhaps that teacher who challenged you in school.
• Or the young child that you played with on the playground.
• Or a colleague at a former workplace.
• Or a friend who lives in a different city.
• A family member who lives far away.
• Someone dear who has died.

May all of our friends, even when absent, never be forgotten.

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