We’re not fancy people. We seldom go out to an extravagant dinner and really splurge on the experience. Don’t get me wrong, we eat out our fair share, but we’re more likely to grab In and Out Burger after a beach walk or frequent the tasty but not too expensive local Mexican place for taquitos or burritos.

But tonight, after a couple of days at a conference in Palm Springs, we decided to go out. Geoff had traveled with me, exploring the airplane museum while I conferenced today. It’s our last evening here and this town is full to the brim with conference goers, spring breakers, and retired folks who enjoy the desert when it’s not too hot. I suggested a reservation, hoping I wouldn’t have to make the dinner decision. And I hit the jackpot!

Apparently he skimmed the Italian restaurants in the area (last night was Mexican dinner with colleagues from my school district) and made a reservation at the only one who took reservations. Acknowledging it might be pricey but that neither of us had eaten lunch, and that the restaurant was a quick 3 minute walk from out hotel, we decided that we deserved a high end dinner.

Douglas was an excellent server who let us know right away that the owner was also the chef and that the recipes had been handed down from her grandmother, the pasta was made in house, and that everything would be delicious. Douglas was right! We started with a glass of wine, followed by a wonderful caprese salad to share. I had a lovely pasta entree whose name I don’t remember…but was fresh and so yummy. And of course, we had to top it off with some gelato for dessert.

The real kicker was the price–brace yourself, it was no bargain–but the total was such a unlikely and serendipitous number: 12345! (In monetary terms it was $123.45). But how often does that happen? Douglas encouraged us to head off to the casino in town since surely it was omen of good luck. We declined that suggestion–instead we are hoping that the Megamillion and Powerball lottery will come in for us! But if it doesn’t, we had a lovely dinner on a warm, beautiful Palm Springs March evening. Seems we can’t really lose today.