At the second toll booth in Illinois yesterday, I witnessed the smoothest ever government system in action. Check it out: The first tool booth we rolled through had some ridiculous toll amount – $1 even – all rounded and available in paper money. The traffic just rolled right through the booth with nary a chance to enjoy the bucolic Illinois countryside; What were they thinking?

The second toll booth was much more like what I’ve come to expect: A solid toll figure – $1.60 ‐ that allows citizens and visitors alike to become more familiar with all forms and denominations of good ol’ reliable coinage. And the Nickle Woman in the booth will forever have a place in my heart: Not only did she return our $0.40 of change in *nickles*, she did it with a huge Lutheran smile and bubbly “Have a great day!” only six minutes and thirteen seconds after we got in her line. The only thing missing was a nice big slice of Jell-O hotdish.

That level of customer service just made me blushingly proud to be a government worker.