I’m linking up with my Soli Deo Gloria sisters  and Rachel Ann’s Company Girls this week. You’re invited to hop over and visit more of us.

Within the last week Mr. Wonderful (Brent) and I spent two evenings out. The first was on my birthday, the second was just an impromptu eat-and-run-errands sort of affair. Let’s compare the two, and see how they stack up…

DINNER
Birthday Date. Brent made reservations at an elegant downtown Dallas* restaurant**, with valet parking and everything. The host greeted us by name and called us by name twice more during the evening. Our attentive server first surprised us by bringing little flutes of champagne. After we ordered and had our iced tea, which is much more to our taste than champagne, he brought us another surprise: beautiful little appetizers. I didn’t know whether to eat mine or photograph it.

Then he served our salads, bringing a complete change of flatware even though I had used only one fork. Soon the main course arrived with another clean set of flatware. I pictured a boxcar load of flatware piling up by the dishwasher.

The food tasted wonderful, besides being photogenic beyond all reason. I mean, we were only going to eat it, right? After the meal we thought we were too stuffed for dessert, until the server said “Lime Cheesecake.”

We split one slice. Yummm.

Regular Date. We opted for the quick, cafeteria-style Panda Express because it would be good fuel for Brent’s bike ride next morning. We carried our trays to a table and dispensed our own drinks. When Brent opened his fortune cookie, he handed me the slip of paper and said, “I must have got your fortune by mistake.” It read, “YOU ARE VERY CHARMING.” My fortune cookie didn’t have a fortune in it. After Brent’s remark, I didn’t need one.

Dessert was leftover Halloween candy after we got home.

FLOWERS / GIFTS
Birthday Date. For my birthday Brent gave me a pair of dangly earrings with turquoise and other color beads. Since they do not go with any of my dressy dresses, I did not get to wear them for our date. However, they’re perfect for the casual clothes I usually wear.

Regular Date. We went from Panda to Home Depot. While Brent mulled over the household chemicals and light bulbs, I went out to the garden center and chose a flat of pansies. Then I carried them around for five minutes looking for Brent before I realized the pansies were leaking damp potting soil onto my sleeve.

MUSIC
Birthday Date. Brent had ordered tickets to a Dallas Symphony Orchestra concert, which is why we had dinner downtown. The orchestra performed flawlessly. It’s no wonder our conductor has such a stellar reputation. We heard a Beethoven opera opus, his Symphony No. 5, and a more contemporary (Korngold) violin concerto featuring soloist Hilary Hahn. Hahn blazed through endless runs at top speed. What a workout!

Regular Date. After Home Depot, we stopped by the Best Buy next door just to see whether they had any bargain CDs. Yes, we’re old. We still buy music on CDs. Don’t judge. We came away with a classical mix and a few of our favorite mellow rock oldies.

ANALYSIS
You know what? It doesn’t make any difference where we go, how much pampering we receive, or how fancy the flowers and music. I got to spend time relaxing with my favorite guy, and that’s enough for me to score BOTH dates

Two Thumbs Up.

Thanks for reading,
Jan

* I figured I had better specify Dallas. Midlothian has downtown restaurants too, but nothing you could remotely consider “elegant.”
** We ate at Dallas Fish Market, which might sound like a smelly grocery store but which is, as I may have mentioned, elegant. I highly recommend it for deliciousness and all-around pampering.