Reflecting on Diversified October

Dear Reader:

The world loves the eighth month of October… with scenes and scents of Harvest moons, haystacks, pumpkins, cool weather, Halloween and a happy bid farewell to summer in the south.

Have you ever considered the connection, however, of October to an octopus? Both their root words come from ” octo”… Latin for eight. Eighth month and an octopus has eight arms.

In fact on the eighth of October … International Octopus Day is celebrated in many areas around the world. If October is the most beloved month of all… how about an octopus with three hearts, eight arms, and nine brains?

Yet as we bid October sadly farewell today, the first day of November, All Saints Day… most of us are snatching just one more piece of candy from the trick or treat bowl… and trying to think of a hiding place we can put it where hopefully …out of sight will lead to out of mind.

Yesterday I attended our early church service which is held out in the woods behind the sanctuary . It was really chilly and it appeared that some mischievous ” spirits” decided to play a part in the Halloween Day service.

Our pastor, Jeff, said it had already been a busy morning for him before arriving and everything just seemed to go slightly askew in a humorous way.

Occasionally it sounded like it was raining-it wasn’t but rain drops left on the leaves from the drizzle during the night before-dropped off the falling leaves -it sounded like rain-and one drop landed right on my nose!

The microphone had this strange static in it and a couple of times, if one was listening carefully…a female voice sounded ( for a few seconds) while Jeff was talking-very strange. We have all seen or heard in spooky movies disappearing stairs in haunted houses… while singing the last hymn .. words from the last stanzas disappeared in mid-paragraph and we all had to hum the remainder of the stanza. It was definitely a “Halloween Trick” service-but no matter-listening to Jeff is always a treat! * And besides today, November 1 is when ” All the Saints Come Marching In.”

I want to say goodbye to Pink October… Breast Cancer Month… was so proud of Lachlan and his team, The Iron Horses, for wearing pink socks in remembrance of this disease that sadly affects so many families!

Love you Rutledge! 💕

Friday was Storybook Character Day from a favorite children’s book. Eva Cate dressed up for her book SMILE and Jake was ” Jack” in the Magic Tree House series. I introduced these books from days ordering them for third / fourth grade SC and American history social studies classes! The boys LOVE them!

So until tomorrow… Sweet November is here with thanksgiving, praise, and gratitude!

Today is my favorite day! Winnie the Pooh

*** Don’t forget! Today is the first day of November! Say ” Rabbit, Rabbit” and have a marvelous month!

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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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