Limo Date for my Son

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When my son Chris turned fifteen I asked him what he wanted for his birthday. He responded that he wanted to go on a date with his long distance girlfriend, Sara, who he had met the summer before at sleep away camp. Sara lived in Chicago, Illinois. We live in Valparaiso, Indiana, a full hour and twenty minute drive and several toll stations away. I had never met Sara before and thought a trip to Chicago with my husband and son would be a perfect opportunity to get to meet her and grant his birthday wish. However, I knew that Chris, being a freshman in high school, would not exactly want us to cart him and Sara around from place to place throughout the day. The problem was that he could not borrow our car for the day because, although he had his learners permit, young adults in Indiana and Illinois are not permitted to drive un-chaperoned until they turn sixteen years old. After some deliberation I came up with a perfect solution that would allow us to meet Sara and give Chris the freedom to have a fun independent day in Chicago with his friend. My family would drive to Chicago, and as a special birthday treat for Chris, we would hire a limousine service for half a day to take Chris and Sara around the city for their date. I had considered just giving Chris cash, and letting him catch cabs from place to place, but Chicago is a big city, and he did not know his way around. By hiring a driver for the day, Chris and I could plan the stops he would make - at Sara's house, the zoo, dinner at the Cheese Cake Factory, and a stop at the Navy Pier - and alert the driver of the destinations in advance so that they would not get lost. Anyhow, my husband and I drove with Chris drove up to Chicago that morning, and had a lovely time walking on Michigan Avenue and eating lunch in the bustling city. In the afternoon, the limousine driver picked up Chris, and off he went. When dinner time rolled around we met up with him and Sara, who seemed thoroughly impressed and flattered by the date, at the Cheese Cake Factory, where we were able to chat. After birthday cake, the two departed for their next destination and my husband and I went to a movie. We met up later that evening downtown. Chris thanked us and said it had been a wonderful day. I was very happy to have arranged for that birthday present, which gave him a feeling of independence and me a sense a security knowing he would get safely from one place to another in the big city.

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