“You tell me and we’ll both know”
August 7, 2025
Increasingly in my older age, I find myself modestly confused by what is going on. Both jargon and technology have passed me by, evidently, but I am fine with it. I love asking the boys what the heck they are doing!
Yesterday during clinics, Peter D. invited me to hop aboard our new patrol boat, a Ribcraft model constructed from hard rubber material. We were able to get really close to the various instructional activities going on without having to worry about collisions. Smart purchase!
Peter talked to the sailors in a language that was Greek to me, but they seemed to understand him and got better at managing their boat. Then we followed Gavin P. all the way around his wind sailing course. Again, I was flummoxed when Gavin dropped the sail and Peter hollered, “Perfect!” Huh?
We got to see more one-on-one instruction, a Kingswood staple, when Sascha passed by with her lone charge, Sam D., in a crew shell. Learning to row properly is quite the challenge and I admired the effort being put forth by both teacher and student.
Meal announcements are always a mix of the practical and farcical, the latter being expressed by the Bow & Arrow coaches in a mock relay race. What we now call the “Clutch Relay” is on tap for this afternoon and the team leaders were mimicking it to the delight of all.
There are four divisions of Bows and Arrows, meaning that eight races will happen. For example, the Bow “Lowers” will all hold onto a rope, racing from one challenge to the next, with one boy jumping off to perform a task (sink a basketball free throw, perhaps.)
Eventually each boy has had at least one turn being “off the rope.” Many years ago, we had “math division” as one of the challenges, say 14718 divided by 62. Easy for most kids, that is unless everyone is screaming at you to hurry up. Brain freeze set in, and, well, that rope would still be stuck to this day had we not waved it forward!
Each group is timed separately with no watches allowed except Mike Wiff’s and he keeps the results to himself until after tonight’s Songfest. Almost every year, the final verdict hangs in the balance until the times are revealed, producing great drama.
I got sidetracked from my theme of the day. So, lastly, allow me to submit two photos of events that needed complete explanations to me and still I did not understand what was happening. All in a typical day at Kingswood!
