We have all had, or will have, those "once in a lifetime" experiences that make life so interesting.

Many of us have found the perfect life partner. That is one of the truly big "once in a lifetime" events. Those of us lucky enough to have experienced this know how special and how singular this is. Some of us have had this experience many times, but it's not the same thing.

The birth of a child is certainly a great event in one's life. All of our children are special, but I think the birth of the first child is just a tiny notch higher on life's special events. It's definitely far more terrifying. But it also gives us the chance to have more of that "once in a lifetime" stuff.

Often these things are fairly ordinary but when they happen for the first time they become a "once in a life time" event.

Take something as simple as getting from here to there. I remember the first time each of my kids crawled, walked, ran, rode a tricycle, roller skated, and then went solo on a bicycle. I also remember the first time each of them went face first into the earth before each of the other firsts.

RECENT GRADUATES- From left, Heather Glendenning, Katie McCoy and Miranda Rodriguez are are ready to start college. I was justifiably proud when each of them received their first driver's license and I'm sure that another one of those great life moments will come on the day that I'm no longer scared to death to ride with either one of them. On the upside, I notice that letting my children drive has greatly increased the strength of my hands, although my knuckles are beginning to turn permanently white. Also, roller coasters don't scare me as much as they used to.

Both of my kids loved sports. They both got their start in TBall and I remember the first time they threw the ball. The first time they caught the ball. The first time they hit the ball. Most fondly, I remember the first time they hit dad in the hand instead of hitting the ball. Being a TBall coach is as rewarding as it is dangerous.

Yesterday, Katie, who is my youngest, graduated from high school. Just as it was with my son, this was right up there near the top of the "once in a lifetime" moments. This was the one and only time that she would graduate high school. It was also the end of a big part of our lives.

When your youngest child graduates high school and goes on to college the world becomes a little different. Suddenly, all of your children have grown up. For them, it is the end of the beginning. For us it is the beginning of tuition and overpriced books.

With the final high school graduation, we are all adults now. We are equals in the eyes of the world. Life has changed and after so much hard work and after so many long years, freedom has finally arrived.

My wife and I can do what we want now.

They may be "once in a lifetime" moments, but if you're lucky enough, there will be plenty of them. Like the time my daughter read my column and stopped talking to me for years.