So we had just crossed the border on a lovely afternoon into northern New York and wanted to take a pitstop. The first city-ish place you come across on the I-87 down to NYC is Plattsburgh - it was the place that shares its PBS station with the Montreal area, so we'd heard of it before. After about five minutes, we finally find a little shop that has everything in it, from red bull to fresh pizza. As my girlfriend and I enter, we see a long line up of guys - construction worker types - waiting to pay for their items. "Okay, here we go..." we both think, used to this kind of situation ending up with the whole store leering at her (she's a stunning girl, I have to say) and everything getting very uncomfortable.
We enter without looking at anybody and head over to refriderator where the drinks were kept cold. We stand there, admiring the much larger selection of custom drinks - something you don't get anywhere else - when a guy comes up and stands beside us... and as we get quiet, he just keeps standing there...
Until after about twenty to thirty seconds, when he very bashfully says 'excuse me'... reaches into the fridge, and picks out his drink... then heads over to the counter.
He was literally waiting for us to make our selection, before he crossed in front of us!
Then, two others, who just wanted past us, began standing there as well... no one would cross in front of us, until we'd made a selection! I had never seen such politeness in my entire life. It was literally flabbergasting. We entered the store thinking the worst, and left amazed at the kind spirits inside. All in about two-three minutes. I've lived in Western Canada, I've lived in Eastern Canada, and I have never even seen this kind of nicety! We talked about it nearly the entire way into Albany.
I wonder what Black would say about Plattsburgh... I'd love to hear it. That guy is hilarious. Someone should give him a lollipop.
