Message in a Bottle- 3

Dear Reader:

Today’s message in a bottle has an underlying Christmas theme about two young couples, two marriages, and a strange coincidence found in a bottle. Enjoy.

Just before Christmas 2016, Christine Cunningham walked the dunes of Haida Gwaii, an archipelago off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, while beachcombing for scallops and other treasures. Did she ever find something! A glass bottle in pristine condition—without a scratch or barnacle on it. She could see a rolled-up piece of paper inside. Christine’s husband, Aaron, managed to open the bottle. The letter it contained was dry and had the same typed message in three languages: “Dear finder, this message in a bottle set off in autumn 2011 on the occasion of the marriage between Christine and Nils in northern Germany on 19 August 2011.”

Christine couldn’t believe it. Not only had the bottle traveled thousands of miles to British Columbia, but she shared the bride’s first name. Even more startling, she had married Aaron that same weekend in August 2011! What were the chances? Christine and Aaron tracked down the other Christine to Egestorf, Germany, where she runs a violin shop with her husband. The two couples became fast friends, thanks to a nudge from the ocean.

So until tomorrow…thank you Father for people who come into our lives to enrich them.

“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

Doesn’t this picture look like the path to Halloweenville or something? It is my second driveway….after all the rain in August the mud from the yard seeped and ran over the driveway….leaving this unusual design. It is growing on me. A few witches’ hats on the fence posts and I have a cool natural Halloween design!

*You might have noticed that not much notice has been given Hurricane Florence…or as we call her “Blow Flo” and pray she becomes “Go Flo” back out to sea from whence she came. As a teacher you learn quickly not to give attention to bad behavior..it makes it worse.

Time will tell but we are keeping in touch with all loved ones and celebrating life up here in the mountains together….a good place to be and great timing on Brooke’s part for the Ya gathering this year. Whatever is going to happen will happen…and we know God will be with us…however it turns out back in the lowcountry.

Satellite picture…..Flo resembles a cotton ball….let’s hope she shreds before arrival or some other natural weather “bollweevil” gets to her.

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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