Toast-Tori Amos

...thinking of those who have passed this year...from our beloved Michael Jackson to my dear friend Alan...the decade has flown by...so much has changed and this year is the proverbial nail in the coffin of the 00's...i recall when the 80's ended...People Magazine retrospective collector's editions...Mention in George Michael's "Waiting On That Day"...now every body's talkin' about this new decade...like you say the magic number and just say goodbye to the stupid mistakes you've made..." Mention in Jesus Jones' "Right Here, Right Now"..."i saw the decade in, when it seemed the world could change in the blink of an eye..." Mentioned in the late 80's classic by Escape Club "Wild Wild West"..."headin' for the 90's, living in the wild wild west..." as well.

...a similar sense of "anything could happen" when the 90's became the 00's...for one the Century turned...then there was the Y2K nonsense to contend with as well...fast forward to 2009...as of yet we Americans have not figured out what to collectively call the decade...some opt for Aughts, some the "O's"...i generally say the two thousands...seems i had forgotten the decade was changing..."i saw the decade in, when it seemed the world could change in the blink of an eye..." Deep.

...so to Alan and other friends and family members who have passed in the last 20 years or so...to those famous or infamous that have inspired me who have gone too soon...i raise a glass, make a toast, a toast in your honor...i hear you laugh and beg me not to dance...'cause on your right...standing by... is Mr. Bojangles with a toast...is telling me it's time to let you go...

...i have wasted the better part of this decade on frivolous pursuits...so even in the passing i am still inspired...inspired to make this next decade (the "Teens?") a more creative, more positive and more memorable decade...i raise a glass...