33 Comments
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Zsolt Kohalmi The Late Harvest's avatar

Walter, fantastic story! Congratulations to your coming baby. We in Hungary still have real chicken, however KFC is taking over...

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you Zsolt! This story is actually from 10 years ago, that baby is now in High School :) But I accept your kind congratulations regardless. I’m glad that America’s phony chicken hasn’t infiltrated the whole world. Best to you!

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Zsolt Kohalmi The Late Harvest's avatar

KFC does infiltrate, but the farmers' market is still is what its name suggests.

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Gene Wood's avatar

Beautiful !!!

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Kurt Schladetzky's avatar

My father, an Iowan, met my mother during his Peace Corps days in Lima, Peru. They moved back to Iowa and raised two sons and a daughter. I have a feeling you and your wife would have much in common with them.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

I bet we would :) Thanks for the comment!

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James Kolka's avatar

Great I am from Eau Claire Wisconsin and I belonged to a Boy Scout troop proud of our Patrol name Tundra Patrol. Since then I have graduated from three Universities and worked in Japan, Latin America, Europe, Central America, Spain and travelled extensively as an International Legal Consultant

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Walter Rhein's avatar

That's fantastic. Are you still in EC?

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Amy Michele's avatar

Wonderful! I sympathize fully with your wife’s shocks - adjusting from spring in NY in March, to cold & snow ‘til May my first year in Berlin was a surprise, then came the end of summer in July, but the worst yet was darkness at 4 in November….& it’s still sometimes hard after 40 years here …I wait for the solstice. But I imagine Wisconsin & Peru were worlds apart. Berlin (Germany) in the early 1980s was like a New York without the problems but with more green. And such a great reason for feeling sick in the morning! And after reading your tale of the cookie catastrophe, it still sounds wonderful!!

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you Amy :)

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Suzanne Whitaker's avatar

Great story, Walter! Love the twist. Congrats on your high schooler! …I can really relate to your wife’s need for sun. When my (then) husband started looking across the country for getting on with the police, our choices in 2004 were Phoenix, Albuquerque, and Anchorage, Alaska. At the time, if we didn’t leave Cincinnati soon, I was going to have to purchase a seasonal light to sit in front of everyday, so much darkness (and I grew up there!). We chose Phoenix and the sun has never dimmed! My marriage, well, that’s another story. Lol!

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Walter Rhein's avatar

My wife got through that first year watching Northern Exposure. I'm going to do a few more stories on that show, I remember it fondly. Yes, we need our sun! Lima, Peru is often covered with clouds, so even there you have to leave the city and find sunshine. Thanks for the kind comment Suzanne!

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Lulu deCarron's avatar

I can’t tell you how much l loved Northern Exposure. I don’t watch a lot of TV, but I wouldn’t miss it.

I purchased the DVDs , But now I have to find a way to play them since my DVD player went by the way of the dinosaurs

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Walter Rhein's avatar

It’s currently on Amazon prime. I’ve been watching it again with the kids. I’m going to do an article on it soon, it’s been my “comfort food” since the election.

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Lulu deCarron's avatar

Can’t wait to read them. And, watching Northern exposure is such a beautiful way to get through the trauma of these next four years. And so much better than hard drugs.

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Suzanne Whitaker's avatar

Oh, I absolutely loved that show! I remember watching every episode. Mad crush on “Chris” the deejay. Fun to see him in so many other shows since then (also, “Thirty Something” and “Alias” with Jennifer Garner and a very young Brad Cooper). Can’t wait to read your recap of the show, Walter.

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Lulu deCarron's avatar

Suzanne, do you remember the episode where a sputnik landed in Cicely? I’m laughing as I read this just thinking about it.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

It killed Maggie's boyfriend, right?

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Suzanne Whitaker's avatar

Lulu, I don’t remember that! I can’t wait to re-watch though!

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Lulu deCarron's avatar

Does anyone remember the sitcom, “In Living Color?

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Suzanne Whitaker's avatar

How funny… I was just telling my client this week about Jim Carey and his hilarious characters on “In Living Color” the other day. Loved the Wayan Brothers as well. Can we find these old reruns somewhere? I did find “Northern Exposure” on Amazon Prime (not Netflix).

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Lulu deCarron's avatar

hi Suzanne, I’m going to check on that. I’ll keep you posted. Let’s subscribe to each other’s Substack..

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Lulu deCarron's avatar

Walter, just that line made me burst out laughing.

If we all stick together, we’ll get through this next four years. We just have to keep commenting and watching reruns of Northern Exposure.

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Rob Nelson's avatar

On Wisconsin. Love your saga. We drove our first Porsche to visit my wife's grandmother in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This lady raised 4 kids in a tiny four room home. I loved working the races at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. Summers in WI are beautiful, yet so short. For your anni take her to The American Club. Based in Kohler, WI,. We stayed there with the Andretti team. Amazing bathrooms stuffed with KOHLER products. The most elegant bathroom we have seen. The kitchen is five stars.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you Rob, that's a lovely reflection. Kohler is a long way from where I live, but maybe I'll get a chance to check it out someday!

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Rob Nelson's avatar

Stay over night. She will never forget it.

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Janice Airhart's avatar

What a lovely story! Thanks for brightening my day. We need reminders of the little joys these days.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you Janice! Yes, I've made a pivot and I'm trying to think of ways to provide comfort :)

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William Weaver's avatar

That was a great story. Thanks for sharing that Walter.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you William!

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Mona's avatar

Thank you, Walter for sharing your beautiful story. I'm sure now your wife likes the 4 or sometimes 3 seasons. Growing up in Bharat didn't know about change of seasons in America. But loved it when experienced first time and ever since.

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Oliver Romsen's avatar

Hopefully, she finds ice skating and skiing fun :- D or building a snowman with your child.

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