Raise your glass and offer a toast!

<sigh>  Valentine's Day.  Love.  Romance.  There's no escape thanks to the commercialization of the holiday.  As the old adage dictates though... if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.  Better yet, lead 'em!  Lead them in a toast!


The history of where the concept of toasting is about as varied as what can be said during a toast!  Toasting is traced back to the 17th century, but where, when, how or why is unclear.


A toast is commonly done in honor of a person and/or celebration.  Over the centuries the toast has evolved from from the sincere to the bawdy.  However since today IS Valentine's Day, we'd like to offer up an outline for creating your own memorable toast as well as give you a few faves.


In creating your own toast, first and foremost BE PREPARED!  Unless you are a silver tongued devil that can ad lib easily, you may want to think about who/what you are toasting to and jot down a few notes as to how to say what it is that you want to say.  It's nerve wracking when all eyes are on you!  Secondly, keep your toast SHORT and SWEET.  There are fewer things more awkward than holding your glass in the air while the toaster is going on and on.  Your audience should be listening to what you are saying, not feigning a smile thinking about how tired their arm is getting!  Lastly, like with any speech, do a DRY RUN.  Practice makes perfect.  Of course, if you are not the writer type, you can always defer to a famous quote that suits the situation!  During the toast, follow all the basic speech rules.  Breath, make eye contact, and smile.


Now for some tried and true toasts!


LOVE
 ~  I love you without knowing how, why, or even from where...
 ~  Real love stories never have endings.
 ~  Where love and wine is concerned, too much is never enough.
 ~  A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.


Now we know there are some of you anti-Valentine's Day folks out there.  Should be going out in protest with friends here's a toast or two worth remembering for the evening:
 ~  LOVE - A form of amnesia when a girl/guy forgets that there are 1.2 other girls/guys in the world..
 ~  Love is in the air?  Ha.  Last time I checked it was actually nitrogen, oxygen, argon and carbon dioxide.
 ~  Marriage is a lottery in which men stake their liberty and women their happiness.


If none of these quote suit your fancy, refer to the link for some more (ahem) traditional toasts.  Be warned, some are rather bawdy :-)  Happy St. Valentine's Day to you and yours!  Cheers!