A Toast

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A Toast

By Jack Rawlins

Welcome and good evening:

When in the course of human events, it becomes appropriate for one ornery but thankful person to pay tribute to another, a just love and respect for that other person should be made clear. That is why we are gathered here tonight: to pay tribute to the lady who brought me into this world.

On her labor day, with a smile and a gentle wave, she dismissed the offer of an epidural. It would have made less painful for her the beginning of my days on this earth. She chose not to cloud the magic of that common miracle we all share... the miracle of birth. Regardless of how often repeated, it remains a miracle...an unbroken chain that goes back to our beginnings that is truly life everlasting.

Dad said she chuckled at the idea of taking classes for childbirth." It's not like potty training," she said." That has to be taught. Making pot for the potty does not. Nor does having a child need to be taught any more than I had to be taught how to make babies."

But the pain of childbirth was just the beginning. The real agony came with my teenage years. It is another of life's miracles that we both survived and are here to celebrate together.

So please raise your glasses with mine as I offer this toast to the lady who made me possible or whom some would say should be held responsible:

"Thank you, and bless you, for all you've done, and were willing to do
for all who love you. And thank you for your love and forgiveness
which passed all understanding when I was so wrong about so
many things. I never said it often enough, but I love you."

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