Becky Dingle with her grandson, Rutledge

 By Linda Karges-Bone

South Carolina Alpha Tau Chapter

“And so the King kept Scheherazade alive day by day, as he eagerly anticipated the finishing of last night’s story. At the end of 1,001 nights, and 1,000 stories, Scheherazade told the king that she had no more tales to tell him. During these 1,001 nights, the king had fallen in love with Scheherazade, and had three sons with her. So, having been made a wiser and kinder man by Scheherazade and her tales, he spared her life, and made her his queen.”

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Rebecca  “Becky” Dingle, a former member of South Carolina Alpha Tau,  took some time off from her ordinary projects when she retired from the Dorchester School District II and thought she would tend to garden and family and pursue her writing habit. She did not anticipate writing to save her very life.
A diagnosis of an advanced, aggressive form of breast cancer triggered a cascade of feelings and decisions, described by the now widely read “blogger” in an interview below.

Becky Dingle’s therapies include a self-prescribed regimen  of  reflection, prayer, and writing that have resulted in what many consider a beautiful, intriguing daily story that combines the author’s life -long love affair with history, culture, and human nature.

To date, the blog has received more than 200,000 “hits” from across the globe, with many faithful, regular readers who consider the “Chapel of Hope” stories to be their daily devotion of choice.

In the interview below, Becky Dingle shares her journey and describes how becoming a famous “blogger,” a modern-day Scheherazade, feeds her soul and strength.

Question: How did the blog come about? What is the history of this story?

It was two years after being diagnosed with an advanced, aggressive ductal breast cancer that I started the blog. During those two years…I felt strongly that I wanted to give back somehow to my fellow man but just wasn’t sure which avenue to take.

Then in July of 2010 I was taken (by a close friend, Honey Burrell) to St. Jude’s Chapel of Hope in Trust, North Carolina (built by a fellow cancer survivor at the time) and I felt Beverly Barutio’s spirit strongly urging me to tell the story of this little chapel.

I returned home, not even knowing what a blog was, but with the help of my son-in-law John, I took a leap of faith and started the blog….Chapel of Hope Stories.

Question: Did you expect his kind of response to what you thought would be a personal quest?

Absolutely not! I was entering an electronic frontier, beyond my limited computer skills, to release a voice within me crying to get out.

I even took on the challenge of writing 1,002 stories, one each day, to beat the fictitious Scheherazade’s record of 1,001 Nights. At the time I had no idea I would live long enough to complete the competition…again a leap of faith.

But the day arrived and then followers and blog readers, who had become a part of my family, asked me to continue the blog…To date I have had more than 200,000 “hits”…. Readers ranging from Dubai to New Zealand…even several pastors comprising the loyal readers.

Question:  Where do you find your topics and inspiration to keep writing so much and so fluidly?

When I made the decision to begin the blog I didn’t know if anybody was the least bit interested in my “voice”….my story. But, I figured, if I could just reach out to one person and make a difference…it was worth it. There are more stories surrounding us than atoms in the universe…so I am never at loss for a lack of stories.

I taught history through storytelling my whole career (34 years in the classroom eighth grade social studies, four years as the district social studies coordinator and an adjunct professor at College of Charleston and Charleston Southern University) …so my blog is comprised of history and children’s stories, as well as, my reflections on life as I live each day to the fullest.
Question: What does the future hold?

Only God knows… my job, my faith is to simply follow the path He is, continually laying out for me.

I call my cancer “little c” because it doesn’t deserve the respect of a capital letter. To date I have had three surgeries, 70 radiation treatments and months of chemo.

I am now on a new drug testing it for others who follow behind me. I have been given time to see two grandchildren (to date) enter my life… so I have much to live for….I thank God each day for each moment of my life…and more importantly… learning how to live in that moment!

*I have discovered that a lifetime can be lived in a moment.

Closing

Becky Dingle’s story continues to grow and attract more and more diverse readers. Men and women, old and young, educators and “civilians” seem drawn to the unique mix of whimsy and reflection, stories and spiritual renewal.

Her messages of hope and gift of providing pure entertainment make Becky  the “Scheherazade of the Blog”.

To experience the “Chapel of Hope” stories for yourself, visit http://chapelofhopestories.com/author/rebeccadingle/

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So until tomorrow…take time to think about the “truths” you have learned through experiences in your own life that should be shared with others.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

* Honey sent me this first picture…just goes to show you can always be surprised by a fairy….popping up on a ladder or showing up at any age.