The top 10

Best gifts I've ever gotten for holidays, Xmas, birthdays, etc., not counting the Barbie dolls my paternal grandmother gave me at every possible occasion between ages 3 and 15 . . .

(In no particular order, except for the last one.)

1. The Commodore 64 I got for Christmas in 19 -- oh, let's say '84 or '85. I don't remember how many levels "Lode Runner"
actually had, but I'm sure I reached them all.

2. The Atari Atari I got for Christmas circa 1982.

3. The iPod Judybat bought me for my 31st birthday.

4. The guitar, plus lessons, Judybat bought me for my 32nd birthday. Even though I'm not very good.

5. The Montblanc fountain pen my sketchy boyfriend from the wrong side of the tracks surprised me with for no particular reason my sophomore year in college. (OK, so maybe there was a reason, but I'm not sharing that much with you people.)

6. The complete New Yorker on DVD that my mother-in-law bought me last week at Powell's. My only problem is knowing where to start: Do I just begin at the beginning, or do I pick random spots to dive in? What to do, what to do??

7. The completely used, 1977 Ford Mustang my mother and stepfather gave me after my first car got stolen my junior year in high school. (I'm sure I didn't leave the key in the ignition and the door unlocked. That would have been kind of stupid.)

8. The brand new Ford Escort my mother and father gave me just before my junior year in college, three years after I wrecked -- and totaled -- the Mustang.

9. The ceramic cows my mother gives me every Christmas. This year's version: A meditating cow.

10. My brother-in-law's old Cannondale bike, fixed up to fit me, which he and Judybat gave to me for my 30th birthday. I didn't appreciate it at the time, but I do now, especially each evening when I reach the last true hill on my ride home.

And now, the best, most amazing and memorable and wonderful gift I've ever gotten . . .

11. Actually, it's a two-fer: The year I turned 8, Santa brought me a replica University of Georgia football uniform, complete with helmet AND shoulder pads, and a regulation basketball goal. In the picture from that morning, I'm wearing my little girl nightgown -- I believe Strawberry Shortcake is indeed on the front -- and beaming at the camera as if thinking, 'Oh my God, they've finally got it right!"

And my grandmother wondered why those Barbies never took.