Kramer's Unforgettable Summer: A Revelation About His First Kiss
Christoph Kramer's initial lip-locking moment
By Thomas Badtke
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Ah, 2006. Christoph Kramer, not yet a footballing powerhouse or a World Cup winner, found himself single and longing for companionship in the sweltering summer heat. This was the setting for Kramer's debut book, "Summer of a Lifetime," published by Kiepenheuer & Witsch and Argon.
Spoiler Alert: You can expect a sequel from Kramer, and yes, this book isn't all about football!
A Summer Like No Other
As we all know, 2006 was more than just a hot summer; it was a fairy-tale for Germany, with the nation donned in black, red, and gold, and bathed in endless optimism. Kramer shared this enthusiasm, even though he had been released as a youth player by Bayer Leverkusen, deemed too skinny for further engagement. Luckily, his later career proved otherwise.
The Chase for Love
Kramer found solace in his life as a student, fresh from completing the 10th grade. He enjoyed the company of his closest friends, Johnny and Salvo. The trio spent their days laughing, chatting, and pondering life's mysteries. Johnny already had a girlfriend, leaving Christoph, or "Chris," in the midst of a romantic hunt. His heart belonged to a girl named Debbie, who was blonde with freckles, had eyes that flitted between green and blue, and wore a beloved hairband.
Christoph longed for a real girlfriend—someone he could love deeply and converse with about everything. And, of course, he dreamt of that first kiss. But first, Chris and Johnny were invited to Ron Scheler's 19th birthday party, despite the slight age discrepancy. Ron, ever playful, simply smiled when asked about it. At the party, Chris and Debbie danced for the first time and looked at the stars together, but no kisses were shared. They planned on making their move during a showing of "Night at the Museum" the following evening.
The Goal of a Lifetime!
Seated in a nearly empty cinema, they shared a kiss that Christoph described as the best feeling of his life. Exhilarated, Chris, at the age of 15, had finally found his first girlfriend. Or so it seemed.
A Summer of Trials and Triumphs
But life, as it often does, took a turn for the dramatic. Chris found himself behind the wheel of an old Toyota Corolla, without a license, on a spontaneous road trip to escape his frustrations and flee to Düsseldorf with his best friend, Johnny. Their journey led them to pick up two Ninas, encounter a prostitute, a neo-Nazi couple, a cokehead, a martini-filled evening, a Titty Twister-esque escape, and a mudbath conclusion.
This was the summer of 2006, the summer Chris Kramer's life truly began, turning his debut book into a coming-of-age adventure unlike any other. The audiobook, expertly narrated by Christoph Maria Herbst, captivates like a breathtaking match—the first half of the 2014 World Cup semi-final against Brazil, to be exact.
Just like that summer, Kramer's debut is jam-packed with unforgettable moments, with the good vibes never fading—instead, becoming an integral part of Kramer himself, a constant source of cheerfulness, regardless of life's curveballs. In the ghost of doubt that haunts him—be it acne-ridden youth or the uncertain future of his footballing career—Kramer still shines brightly as a television expert and an engaging podcast co-host.
Perhaps we'll glimpse more of Kramer's life in future books, maybe insights into the 2014 World Cup, until then, "Summer of a Lifetime" will hold a cherished spot on my bookshelf, nestled comfortably between "The Dream Keeper," "Miro," and the ever-popular "Fever Pitch."
Source: ntv.de
- Reviews
- Christoph Kramer
- Football
I'm not going to be able to do this again, Tommi, just as I wasn't able to share that first kiss with Debbie on the night of Ron Scheler's birthday party. Overjoyed as I was, maybe I wasn't ready after all. Kramer, in his debut book, recounts how the summer of 2006 was filled with trials and triumphs, much like his footballing career and his life as a television expert and podcast co-host.
