This is Rainer's tribute page.

The early-60's television show, Candid Camera, had a theme song which had lyrics beginning with, "When you least expect it, you're elected..." and that's how life sometime bestows great fortune upon us--  When we least expect it.  Such was the case in meeting our now good friend, Rainer Vogel.

Although Rainer lives overseas, we did not meet via the Internet.  Instead, we met through mutual friends and family.  That is, Rainer's sister used to work with Scot's mom.

One day while visiting his parents, Scot's mother stated that her former co-worker's brother, from Germany, was coming to the States for his first trip here.  "Oh, that's nice," Scot replied.  Mom continued, "Yes, and apparently he's interested in taking-in some of the night life and his sister and brother-in-law aren't much on that type of thing, plus they have a new baby you know".  'Oh great,' thought Scot, 'I'm being set up to show this guy around.  I don't speak German!  Plus, I can just see dragging this guy into some of my favorite night-spots with him yodelling, wearing those lederhosen things and a felt cap with a snipped-off feather stuck in it!'  Huh-uh.  Not up for any part of that!'

A couple of weeks passed by and then Scot received a telephone call one evening, from his dad.  Rainer was in town now and Scot's dad was planning to take him to Mount Vernon, where Scot worked, to do the tourist-thing around George Washington's estate and gardens.  So they agreed on a time for one morning later that week and where Scot would go meet them to say hello.  (Or "guten tag", or whatever!)

Well, to make the beginning of a long and wonderful friendship short, Rainer was neither wearing lederhosen, a felt cap nor yodelling plus he spoke near-perfect, text book English.  Scot, in fact, was quite impressed and suggested that his dad and Rainer call him when they were finished with their tour of Mount Vernon and that the three of them then go out for lunch nearby.  Later, during lunch, Scot asked Rainer if he would like to go out that evening to one of the local entertainment venues in Alexandria.  Rainer, gracious in his acceptance, said that he had no other plans for the evening and would like to go.  Arrangements were made to pick Rainer up at his sister's house after dinner and it was one of the most enjoyable evenings Scot had ever had.

Rainer is a great guy and - to our good fortune - has returned to the States every year since then for his "holiday"; staying usually three or four weeks at a time.  The only disappointing fact about his visits here, from that first time on, is that he has to leave to return to Germany.  We wish he was here all year.

Pictures of Rainer (along with our friends Kim and Larry Geldner) are pointed to from the link at left and also in the Travel/Las Vegas section of our site.

Comments and questions can be sent to:
 

This page was last updated on 05/30/04 .