– Buying new towels. Seriously, after a few years of marital sharing, treat yourself to some towels. No one is giving you a mid-life bridal shower. (Ditto on new pans for the kitchen, new sheets for the bed, and new unmentionables for the lingerie drawer.)

– Nursing a head cold. The t.v. advertisements always say, “rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids, and take Insert-Name-Brand-Cold-Remedy-Here.” But nobody does that. We all press on like good soldiers and hack and sneeze our way through another work day, spreading germs across cubicles and possibly delaying our own recovery by three or four days. A day on the sofa with hot tea and toast is worth the few hours of vacation you’ll have to subtract next summer. And your coworkers will thank you.

A few other things I know from experience you will never, ever regret:

– Reading to children.

– Writing your mother.

– Going to bed early.

– Eating cake on your birthday. (okay, you might regret that one. But it will be worth the trouble.)

– Celebrating your friends. (Please consider yourself celebrated. Add cake if you so desire)

Two friends we love to celebrate: Don & Cheri, with whom we happen to share a four grandchildren.

Two friends we love to celebrate: Don & Cheri, with whom we happen to share four grandchildren.