I was in a frenzy last week as I relied on my GPS to navigate me to the first Atlanta Smug Meeting. This was especially exciting because I had been waiting for a Smug to launch in Atlanta and a respected photographer and new friend, Liana was speaking. I was running late, as usual, and it was 6:30 which meant traffic. In Atlanta, rush hour lasts from 3:00 in the afternoon until 7:00pm. Really…there is traffic all.the.time, whether it be at 11 at night or 9am on a Saturday morning. ALWAYS. I hate traffic. Arghhh. But that’s a different post.

Following the GPS route, I pulled up to the toll booth on 400, and grabbed my wallet to get my $.50 toll. The panic began to creep in. I didn’t have any money. I didn’t even have a penny in my wallet. Surely I had change in my car so I popped open my 2 default change storing compartments and…nothing. NOTHING! Rather than FREAK OUT, I remained calm and pulled up to the line that was titled CASHIER. As I pulled up to the nice, beautiful, pretty, amazing (and any other positive thought I could think of) woman, I handed her my credit card. Like I did that all the time, no big deal, just run the $.50 fee on my credit card please, thank you! She looked at me. With that look. The you idiot look. My easy breezy I do this all the time facade melted…and I crumbled. “I don’t have ANY money I explained. Can you please please please just charge it to my card? What happens if I can’t pay? Can I get an I.O.U? Riiggghhttt an I.O.U, I’m sure they give those all the time. She interjected mid sentence and I caught my breath. Then she told me that if I didn’t have any cash, they would charge my credit card. $25.50 for the toll fee. That’s twenty.five.dollars.and.fifty.cents. What!?!?! Oh sweet.baby.Jesus. I did NOT want to pay an extra $25. I don’t even like 400…that’s right I don’t like the road. I try to avoid it whenever I can and the one time I decide to take it this happens. Pfft… I am never driving this road again. I’ll show it!

I felt like an idiot. I looked in my rear view mirror and yes yes, I was in fact the person holding up the line. My face must of been bright red. The woman at the booth began talking to someone behind me and lifted up her hand in a wave to confirm she heard correctly. This sweet, beautiful, amazing, pretty woman looked at me and said, “The car behind you is going to pay your toll.” Rather than say thank you and move forward, I decided to open my mouth,”So you’re going to let me go through?” That’s right I essentially asked her if someone else paying my toll equated to her letting me go through the booth. I am way good at sticking my foot in my mouth. She looked at me, gave me a oh sweet child smile and pressed the magic button that lifts up the gate. I hoisted my body up out of my window as much as I could to tell the car behind me thank you. Geez the line was REALLY long now. I couldn’t see in the reflection of their windshield, but raised my hand in complete appreciation, hopped back into my seat and drove through the gate, exhaling a huge sigh of relief. Completely and utterly grateful for such a small gesture. I began to think as I continued my route to the Smug meeting- If I was that car behind me, what would my reaction have been? Would I have been so generous with something so small?

Being completely and embarassingly honest, I would not have. I would have grumbled and complained that there was an idiot in front of me and they should know they have to pay a toll and if they can’t its their fault they are getting charged so much and they should really get out of MY way because I have places to be. Really? REALLY. This reality hurt. A lot. And it was a defining moment. A moment where I could go on with life as normal OR I could learn from what was just revealed to me about myself and make a change. So I am making a change.

In an effort to pay it forward, my first step is to offer it on this blog. I am going to give a free photo session away. This session includes 1 hour of shooting time and the DVD of edited images. You don’t have to follow me on Twitter, like my Facebook page or write me a really sweet note telling me how much you like my work (although all of those things would be nice ). Just simply leave a comment below and tell me what kind of session you would like. Any kind of session you want- family, senior, anniversary, maternity, newborn, band, portfolio, etc. Spread the word! If you don’t need a session, use this opportunity to enter someone you know who would like one. The winner will be picked at random on September 7.