At 64, What’s My Favorite Cheap Thrill?

Hint: My Yorkie-Poo Loves It Too

Photo by Daniel Montalvo on Unsplash

I’ve enjoyed many things in my life. Books and music. Friends and lovers. Children, cats and canines. Not to mention the work that I love. But at 64, there’s one thing I know I can always rely on to make me happy.

A good night’s sleep.

I wake up each morning, refreshed, then glance at the clock. “That’s eight solid hours!” I’ll think happily. Then I’ll turn right over and head back to dreamland for another hour. Sometimes, two.

Sleeping in. It’s my favorite cheap thrill.

When I was in law school, I was up every morning at 6 a.m., studying. When I was a young mother, I was up every morning at 6 a.m. with the baby. But at this point in my life, there isn’t a reason in the world for me to awaken at dawn and leap from my bed.

So I don’t.

Nine hours is my sweet spot. Twelve hours, which I achieved on a recent spa vacation, is my personal best.

I just love the way it feels to wake up, refreshed, after hours and hours of delicious, soul-satisfying, care-unraveling slumber.

My friends feel the same way.

“I don’t just enjoy sleep,” says Stacia. “I wallow in it.”