” It’s a Small Small World “

My new addition to my world-my front yard sign

Dear Reader:

Today is the 16th of March… the day before St, Patrick’s Day! And instead of getting a hankering for cabbage and corn beef… I went to Publix to buy ingredients for spaghetti-Italian.

I made a big batch so I could share with neighbors and take some to Anne along with the Bells of Ireland floral spray found in the florist section of the store! I was thrilled!

I was so happy-humming as I made an arrangement… until I realized that the Bells of Ireland don’t come from Ireland at all-my batch came from Ecuador and the accompanying flowers from Colombia-as in South America.

So how did these flowers get their name?

It’s all thanks to their bell-like shape and lovely green color-giving them their famous Celtic signature. They come from a mint family-aromatic herbs. Their meaning: Good Luck, Luck be with you, You will have good luck… It is the favorite flower for St Patty’s Day!

It was first cultivated in Belgium in the late 1500’s -they are available year round with white flowers emerging from the ” bell” pods. However, they originally came from Syria and Turkey. But that luscious shade of green made “Ireland green” the choice for the name!

The native Irish wildflower daffodils really are a more accurate genealogy because daffodils grow wild there beside streams-woods and vacant lots-daffodils love Ireland!

It is not just store flowers that surprise us by the international floral trade market-but the war between Russia and Ukraine ( the bread basket of the world-flour and corn) that has reminded all of us just how dependent we are on each other for food and other critical supplies.

In a perfect world it is the way it should be -helping and sharing food for each country but sadly we all know we live in an imperfect world made so by man… and the flawed catalyst that has and continues to flaw God’s amazing world –GREED.

So until tomorrow… as our world grows smaller… our hearts need to grow larger and like the Grinch’s heart that ” grew 3 sizes that day … the true meaning of Christmas came through. ” We could use a little Christmas right now!

While visiting Anne …our state bird, the Carolina wren, accidentally got in the back door and a wild chase to get it safely back out ensued. Anne caught it and I took a picture-the little wren must have known I taught SC State History and every year I told the story behind the selection of the wren-but it’s getting late and I am ready to eat… spaghetti! Another day for that story!

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.”

View all posts by Becky Dingle →

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.