Kingswood For Life Issue 3

THE AMBASSADOR'S SPIN
The guy's name is Michael. But, don't ever address him as such. He is
KLAUS, plain and simple. He has been with us for 21 of Kingswood's 31
summers under the Wipfler banner. As Head Counselor, he makes knowing
every boy his prime camp duty. He is everybody's best friend, UNLESS he has
donned his black trench coat, black hat and dark sunglasses, whereupon he
transforms into the mean Mr. Ambassador (from nowhere to nowhere). His
mission is to smash every egg to bits during the infamous Egg Drop
competition. He's got a great way with sarcasm and we think you will enjoy
his biting wit. Take it away Mr. Ambassador.
A few weeks ago, an exasperated coach Klaus was silently lamenting the inconsistent play of his varsity tennis
team during a match (yes, I can silently lament). One of my players finally hit the shot that had been eluding him for a
few games, upon which I quietly said ?praise Sabiston,? a reference, of course, to the birthday bit in which the counselor
staff turned the dining hall into a revivalist Church of Sabiston (complete with ?organ? and hymns).
Sadly, one of my players overheard me and asked what this mysterious godly-Sabiston was all about. Willie
Staso?s voice screaming ?PRAIIIIIIIIIIISE SABISTON? ran through my head, but I had to awkwardly explain the
reference, though anyone who has been to Kingswood in the past 25 years would need no explanation for why Todd
Sabiston is a God-like figure.
The reason this conversation struck me is how many times in my daily life I find myself using ?Kingswood-ese.?
Phrases and words like make it work, womp, you know it, helm, be a pro, slim, ding dong, and now look it are said (or
at least thought) by me many times each day. These phrases mean nothing to those outside our small corner of the
world. I do a clearing game every time my school has a community lunch with assigned tables.
The other reason this conversation resonated with my so pointedly is that I find it difficult to explain Kingswood
to others when I am home. You no doubt have this problem as well. When you can go to the store and buy a soda any
time you want you forget the lengths required to get a Coke from a counselor. Earning a trip to Fat Bob?s (may he rest in
peace) has no motivating power outside of Rt. 25C. Perhaps most sadly, no one has any idea how amazing it feels to
pull together a bit in the attic two minutes before show-time and have it be hilarious.
Perhaps because I am on my soon-to-be 22nd consecutive summers that these phrases get renewed every year,
but when I see an alum who comes back after a multi-year hiatus, it is nice to have a common language that will never
go away.
Shout it loudly,
Klaus
"Make it work!" "You know it!" "Be a pro!"