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I don't have many epiphanies in the Wendy's drive-thru. So as far as epiphanies go, and drive-thru experiences for that matter, this one was pretty memorable.

It was last weekend and I was in the middle of my usual Saturday morning routine. This is the usual order of business: sleep in a bit, make myself an omelet and some coffee (flavored creamer is a given), enjoy said breakfast while watching cartoons (no, I'm not too proud to admit this, nor that my favs are The Wild Thornberrys and Kim Possible), shower and get ready to greet the world, go to the local French Market to buy veggies and flowers for the coming week, stop by the Wendy's drive-through for a salad, then head home to eat lunch while watching some cheesy UPN sitcom or reading the latest novel du jour.

I admit I used to feel a bit sheepish about my lack of productivity in this equation. Cartoons by myself in my pj's seemed a tad silly. And was buying flowers for myself every week a waste of money?

Enter Wendy's Drive-Thru Man, who interrupted my auto-pilot mental haze as I was in the final stretch of my regular Saturday schedule by saying, "Oh, you didn't have to buy me flowers!"

I'm sure I looked at him quizzically at first. Then I realized the bouquet I'd just bought at the market was perched on the passenger seat beside me. I tried to think of an equally clever and breezy comeback, but for lack of anything inspired settled for something along the lines of "Oh! Ha, ha." (Okay, so I never said cleverness was part of the Saturday morning routine.)

After a brief pause while he waited for the salad genies to assemble my lunch, I broke the awkward silence by saying, "Sorry, they're actually for me."

"Oh. Who bought them for you?" he asked as if hopeful to uncover some romantic scheme between schlepping flame-broiled burgers.

"Actually, I did," I replied, a bit sorry to burst his bubble.

"Oh," he murmured. "I guess you have to do that from time to time."

And I realized he was right. Solo lazy Saturday mornings and buy-it-yourself bouquets are part of treating yourself right in this sometimes crazy and demanding world. Everyone needs down time and special treatment on occasion, and without one certain person signed up to help out with that task till death do us part, we singles gotta dive in there and do it ourselves.

Unfortunately, I have friends who won't buy themselves flowers and who refuse to go to the nearby romantic outdoor concert arena until taken there by a date. But I've learned that lack of a person to initiate these things or to share them with shouldn't hold us back from enjoying the little treats in life that make our days brighter and prevent us from becoming tough and grumpy.

While it can be tempting to feel a bit foolish doing these things for ourselves instead of having a significant other to do them for us or to share in the fun, wouldn't it be that much more foolish to miss out on the little bright spots of life for such a trivial reason?

Besides, my married friends have made me well aware that spouses don't always share our enthusiasm for cheesy TV or aren't always skilled in the buying-us-flowers department (or whatever it is that floats our boat). Taking time for things that simply make us smile is a skill that serves us well no matter what stage of life we find ourselves in.

I think a large part of this issue boils down to valuing ourselves and our own company enough to enjoy these little indulgences from time to time. I think it's altogether healthy to know the things in life that make us happy and to take time for them on a semi-regular basis. After all, as God's unconditionally loved creations, we're worth it!

My salad paid for and safely tucked beside the flowers on my passenger seat, I prepared to drive off into the rest of my Saturday routine. Before I left, however, Wendy's Drive-Thru Man said, "Next time I hope someone special buys you flowers." I think he meant well, but there was a hint of pity in his voice.

I thanked him. Then, glancing at my floral purchase beside me before merging into traffic, I thought, Silly Drive-Thru Man, someone special already did.

Camerin welcomes your feedback and brainstorms at: SinglesNewsletter@ChristianityToday.com

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