A $20 Challenge

Tell you what, I'll stop by the drive-in after work to grab something for us to eat if you can get a blanket, some flashlights, and a dessert.

Then I'll pick you up from our driveway and we'll take off for a quiet dinner for two, al fresco.

The request came as a bit of a surprise... it was a terribly busy time at work and there was an early call the next morning, and when would my workout get done?

But this sure would be a different sort of experience and eating out could be a good time.. if I could just figure out what the flashlights are for!

To pull off something like this takes a bit of planning... food?  Check.  

Map downloaded to my phone?  Check.

Music ready?  Check.

I pulled into the driveway moments later to pick up my passenger, the blanket, flashlights, and some sort of dessert.

Off we went... on to the highway and up to speed as we chased the sunset, up ahead came the first of a series of turns with each change of direction and rise in altitude until the final switch-back brought the car to a small parking lot with three empty stalls and a view of a winding river valley.

The couple started up the trail until in a clearing they saw a picnic table and what could be a picture of gorgeous Wisconsin countryside behind it.

The blanket served as a tablecloth and the carefully wrapped sandwiches were placed in front of each diner.

One candle, held in place inside an old soup can, provided extra light as the sun began its long trip to the western horizon.

They ate quietly, listening to birds sing and pond frogs chirp.  The dessert was a simple Jello punch cake - a fork used to create holes in the white cake before pouring the warm strawberry Jello over the top and then spreading the whipped cream over the top of it.  Forks were found and the cake was delicious.

The candle provided most of the light now, and before it was blown out the flashlights were brought out to provide safe passage back to the car.

The long walk down the soft path interrupted by the snapping of sticks and crackle of leaves finished at the passenger side of the car.

The door was opened, the chauffeur smiled and simply said:  
"I win,  I told you we could enjoy a quiet candlelit dinner for less than $20!"