“You Just Have to Keep on Swimming”

Dear Reader:

What a day Wednesday June 29 turned out to be. As I texted Anne….I must honestly admit “It was NOT my favorite day.”

The “Bad Mojo” started Tuesday morning with a text from Mandy saying that the family would have to return home from their Disney World vacation because Jake had a bad cough, diagnosed with a virus, and running a high fever of 104.

My heart broke for everyone….how disappointing after all the pre-planning they had done over months for this week of vacation with Joan and W.T. (John’s parents) at Disney. But nothing is less fun than a sick child with a bad cough because then no one can sleep or function well.

They got home Tuesday evening arriving in the midst of torrential rain storms.

I suggested to Mandy that I come get Eva Cate and do something special with her to relieve them and let them concentrate on getting Jakie feeling better.

I baked cookies all Wednesday morning for the DSS water/cookie distribution and then ran over to Mr. Pleasant to pick up Eva Cate so she could go with me and weather permitting watch and learn about giving to others at the DSS parking lot.

It was not to be …..I ran into torrential rains Wednesday on I-526 getting to the house> My plan B with DSS was to take a set of cookies simply to the DSS office to thank the workers for all they do. This was not to be either. I got stuck in one of the worst traffic jams I have ever been on returning on I-526. It took Eva Cate and myself 2 and a half hours to reach Summerville.

DSS had been long closed before we got back home. Lessons in patience dominated Wednesday afternoon. “Patience” is a virtue and one I still need a lot of work on.

But yesterday was another day…..Not only did we “Find Dory” at the movies we found time to drop all the cookies off to an appreciative group of DSS workers.

Eva Cate loved helping give the cookies out.

At lunchtime we had a chance to discuss the theme of the Disney movie and Eva Cate nailed it: “No matter what happens you have to keep on swimming Boo Boo.”

A wonderful lesson in life for all of us.

I am going to keep this blog short today since I am taking Eva Cate back home and want to leave before the afternoon thunderstorms arrive. Am babysitting the children tonight so John and Mandy can salvage one evening out together from the “busted” holiday. All’s well that ends well….and Jakie is slowly starting to turn around with his upper respiratory cough and cold.

So until tomorrow….Isn’t it wonderful to know that every day we get to wipe the slate clean and start life over with renewed hope…as long as we just keep swimming….never giving in to disappointments but bouncing back excited about the next surprise.

“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

July1st! Remember to say “Rabbit” and get the good mojo going for our wonderful patriotic month of thanking God for being a citizen of this great country!

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”

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2 Responses to “You Just Have to Keep on Swimming”

Jo Dufford says:

July 1, 2016 at 9:47 am

I’m so sorry the children had to leave Disney and hope Jakie is soon better. Also hope the Boo doesn’t get the virus. Sounds as if you really had a lot of practice with patience. I called Colby early today, and she said, “I’ve already said rabbit today.” I think you said that was for luck, didn’t you? So I hope “Rabbit!” will turn your luck around from earlier this week. Just wanted to wish you a Happy Independence Day, and to say how thankful I am for all the people who made it possible for us to celebrate the many freedoms we enjoy every day.

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- Becky Dingle says:
  
  July 1, 2016 at 2:38 pm
  
  Love hearing from you Jo! I certainly did say “Rabbit” first thing this morning…we need to turn this family’s mojo around. These day the fourth of July means even more to me with the appreciation and gratitude I feel for being born in this amazing country.! Happy Independence Day to you and Colby….two of my favorite gals!
  
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