Are you experienced?

As Skyler's first birthday (eek!) rapidly approaches we have had a debate as to what to get her. We went to the Gap a few weeks back and grabbed some super cute clothes, but that hardly seems like a first birthday celebration.

We landed on an engraved bracelet from Tiffany & co. It seems to be the perfect keepsake to commemorate the first year of her life and the best year of ours.

There are certain things that happen in a life that I believe should be experiences one must have. I can remember my first gift from Tiffany. It took 27 years and a creepy boyfriend to get. And while I would rather not remember his name, I can still recall the slick paper on the blue bag and the silky ribbon that tied together my very first blue box.

Every women should know how that feels. To get a blue box from Tiffany & co. that was picked just for her. Everything about that gift is an experience. I know Skyler will be too little to be able to appreciate it this year, but some day, maybe on her wedding day or the birth of her first child she will understand that gift was more than a gift. It was an illustration of the fact we want her to have every experience worth having.

So, since I am getting ready to say Aloha to my 32nd year, I am making a list of 32 the coolest experiences I have been lucky enough to have. I cannot give them all to Skyler, but I will surely try.

1) Seen the Eiffel tower sparkle at midnight in the arms of someone I truly loved.

2) Danced the Flamenco on stage in Spain.

3) Sang Karaoke at an upscale bar in Shanghai.

4) Ate Curry Wurst in Berlin.

5) Drank a Starbucks from the original shop in Seattle.

6) Ate a hotdog from Gray's Papaya at midnight in Central Park, NYC.

7) Seen REM in Georgia with my oldest and dearest friends.

8) Had more than thirty people show up at a goodbye party.

9) Watched the US play Italy and Croatia play Brazil in Germany for the World Cup '06.

10)Paddle-boated around the canals in Amsterdam.

11) Saw my favorite painting at the Met. It was more beautiful than words could convey.

12) Hung out where Kerouac and the beat poets once read at City Lights book shop in San Fran.

13) Swam with dolphins in Mexico.

14) Watched a Leonard Cohen concert from backstage.

15) Had high tea at Claridges in London.

16) Attended mass at the Notre Dame in Paris.

17) Drove across the United States (well from Missouri to California, anyway)

18) Danced on the bar at the Dizzy Rooster in Austin, Texas.

19) Flew to Vegas on a moments notice.

20) Got married to my best friend at the top of a mountain during a snow storm surrounded by the best people I know.

21) Had a birthday with three different birthday cakes

22) Flown first class

23) Drank Plum Wine in Seoul with a guy named Dong.

24) Completed the Portland to Coast race two years in a row

25) Stood on the stage of Saturday Night live and on the marker at Conan Obrien (no people don't get to do that, I knew someone who worked there)

26) Had a perfect picnic at the Vondal Park in Amsterdam

27) Attended Hogmenay in Glasgow and danced in the new year

28) Did the time warp at the Rocky Horror Picture Show

29) Watched the stick turn positive

30) Sat second row at the Amsterdam production of "Giselle" ballet

31) Had a surprise party that was really a surprise

32) White water rafted on the same course Olympians train on

There are many more moments and memories which have made up my life. These are really just a drop in the bucket. But, if I can give Skyler half of these things, and more over, if I can give her the desire to seek out new and exciting experiences than I will have done my job.