Growing Old is Mandatory, Growing Up is Optional

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Becky Dingle

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Dear Reader:

Yesterday I sent a copy of the photo of the “Terrific Trio” of Eva Cate and her two best friends, along with Mrs. Kent their teacher, to Mandy to forward on to Mrs. Kent to have with an enclosed note: “Thanks for letting me come learn with your first graders.”

The impact of technology on children today never ceases to amaze me. About halfway through my presentation on learning a few of the Presidents names…I saw my IPhone and remembered I wanted Mrs. Kent to take a few photos of the class and handed it to her…she asked what my password was to unlock it….and I whispered four numbers. Immediately, the same children who were still trying to tell the difference between Washington and Madison…(the white wigs were giving them trouble) immediately chirped up with the numbers.

“So, I said, you have trouble identifying Presidents but no trouble remembering my password to open up my Iphone…am I getting this right?” (Mrs. Kent, bless her heart, is boy heavy in her class and every one of them giggled and nodded…no problem with numbers!)

falseteethAs I was talking about dispelling the myth that Washington had wooden teeth, I told them he did have false teeth made from humans and animals, even ivory from a hippo tusk. Mrs. Kent looked up some images and portrayed them on the smart board so that the children could see Washington’s false teeth immediately. Instant gratification in teaching and learning! Wow!

Interesting tidbit: George Washington started losing his teeth in his twenties and by the time he was inaugurated he only had one tooth left in his head. Many dentists tried to help him with creating different types of dentures…but the truth is that he spent most of his life in pain with abscessed teeth. How this poor man could lead a revolution and then a country (being in constant tooth pain) tells us even more of the courage and fortitude of our first President. And it certainly explains why we never saw him smiling.

pk_webbadge-9ccd2e1f42Those dentures just reminded me….the Ya’s and I are off today (all wearing smiles) to see the traveling Broadway Musical Beautiful. It is playing at the Peace Center in Greenville and we have tickets to the Saturday matinee performance. We are staying in Saluda at Ted and Brooke’s mountain home and making a mini-vacation of the trip. In fact we are meeting Honey tomorrow in Hendersonville to hang out and get caught up with all of Honey’s amazing projects. Too excited!!!

Beautiful is the story of Carole King’s life and we are beyond excited. A synopsis of the show says:

 The fascinating life of one of pop music’s greatest performers and songwriters takes center stage in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. The show begins just before Brooklyn native Carol Klein composes her first hit song, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” in 1959 when she is 17, pregnant and newly married to 20-year-old lyricist Gerry Goffin. In the decade that follows, King and Goffin produce a string of classic hits while forming a lasting friendship with another composing couple, Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. When Carole’s personal life begins falling apart, she responds by stepping out of the shadows with Tapestry, a deeply personal collection of songs that becomes one of the best-selling albums of all time.

I know we will be swaying to the tunes Saturday afternoon! Wednesday I went shopping and picked out a new blouse to wear and I only wished my dressing room had “dimmer switches.”

Will be returning next Monday and catch everyone up on the fun.

So until tomorrow…the mountains are calling.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

 

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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3 Responses to Growing Old is Mandatory, Growing Up is Optional

  1. Rachel Edwards says:
    February 23, 2017 at 7:23 am

    I am jealous. ..we were in Saluda last wkd. Enjoy Beautiful. When you get back we will go for a drive…get an ice cream cone and sing along with the sound track.

    On Feb 23, 2017 6:02 AM, “Chapel of Hope Stories” wrote:

    > Becky Dingle posted: ” Dear Reader: Yesterday I sent a copy of the photo > of the “Terrific Trio” of Eva Cate and her two best friends, along with > Mrs. Kent their teacher, to Mandy to forward on to Mrs. Kent to have with > an enclosed note: “Thanks for letting me come learn ” >

    Reply
  2. Jo Dufford says:
    February 23, 2017 at 8:34 am

    Have fun and give Honey a hug for me.

    Reply

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