Hot Chocolate

Now, some of you are probably wondering what I'm doing. Hot chocolate in August? The man must be crazy. No, he must be certifiably insane. He's lying. That's it. Nobody has hot chocolate in August.

Comments about insanity aside, (especially since they involve me (8-) ), I am telling you the honest truth. There is a mug of hot chocolate beside me. Now, why am I drinking hot chocolate?

Well, here's a question for you: what do you do to relax?

For me, one of the things that helps me relax is a mug of hot chocolate. This is especially important at the moment, considering the fact that I'm currently going through final exams here at the University of Waterloo.

But it's more than relaxation. There's a whole tradition surrounding hot chocolate. You can have it with marshmallows, on a cold winter night, and it'll warm you up. No bad side-effects, or addictions can arise from drinking hot chocolate. Guinan even serves it to the crew of the USS Enterprise on Star Trek:The Next Generation.

And it brings back wonderful memories for me. Memories of special friends in far away places. Memories of good times in places that seem to be almost a lifetime away. Memories of feelings that I thought had been beaten out of me by cold, hard reality.

Hot chocolate doesn't just warm up the body, it warms up the heart. That's a pretty good deal, in anybody's book. Certainly in mine.

Here. Everybody, take a moment and grab something to drink. Doesn't have to be hot chocolate, anything will do. Water, OJ, a can of Coca-cola, whatever. Got one? Alright. Let me make a toast, with this cup of hot chocolate in my hand:

Here's to everybody. PYPSers, Windsorites, Waterlooites, and all my other friends and familiy wherever they may be. To the special ones, the lonely ones, the happy ones, the sad ones, the crazy ones.

Here's to the people that saved my life and to those that made my life. You know who you are. Thanks.

Here's to the people that may have saved or made YOUR life. Thanks to them as well.

Here's to love, happiness, laughter, and freedom. Four things that insures that this planet still has a fighting chance to see a brighter future.

Here's to God and everybody, who keeps giving me second chances when I don't deserve them.

Insert your toast here. Friends, family, whatever. Use your imagination. Count your blessings.

Okay everybody. Drink up.

And smile.