Back in 1975 we were on transfer from the Maritimes to Saskatchewan. We decided to take the American route and somewhere in southern New York State we stopped in a small town for lunch. We parked right next to a picnic table and right across the street was a greasy spoon.
Our boys were one and three at the time and my wife was going to feed them a ready made lunch. Meanwhile I went across to the greasy spoon to order our take out lunch for my wife and I.
Inside, was a guy behind the counter with an apron on and an old guy sitting at the counter sucking on a beer. I placed the order and while waiting, the guy with the apron asked me if I was in the military (judging by the hair cut and assuming I was an American ). I replied that I was and, he asked where I was stationed. I said, "I'm on transfer from Cornwallis, Nova Scotia to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan."
He stopped cooking and glanced at me for a second, then went back to cooking without saying a word. The old guy sucking on a beer turned his head, looked at me for about 5 seconds then went back to nursing his beer and never said a word.
No other conversation took place, I paid for the order and left.
I often wondered if they thought I was just being a smart a$$ or that I didn't understand english that well.