Life is Never Dull

Entrance into John and Mandy’s Neighborhood

Dear Reader:

Yesterday was a full day when I saw God in nature as spring brings weekly new surprises , took time to pull over and sit on a bench …watching ducks and geese swim and fly by.

Yesterday morning I drove to Mandy’s in Mt Pleasant to pick up items left the week I stayed over ( always leave something) and took the new Easter Rabbit flag and stand for the children’s enjoyment!!!

Then I was off to Daniel Island… to pick up Ben ( my brother) at Wellmore for his cardiology appointment. Always try to get one around lunch time so we can eat lunch out and have a chance to catch up. It was off International Blvd where there are lots of restaurants … but it just so happened that the place we chose to eat had a lady across from where we were eating… who kept looking over at us-she finally came over and said, that after watching us… she thought Ben was once a turkey and I a duck!

We both just laughed but then since she kept staring …I quacked and Ben gobbled-that seemed to satisfy her… I asked what she was and she proudly and loudly declared ” A horse-then neighed and literally ” galloped” off. I honestly can’t think of a way to bring closure to that rather bizarre incident except to nod upward and thank God that each day is never dull if we are open to new experiences… quack quack !

Unfortunately my good luck getting around Mt Pleasant, Daniel Island, and N Charleston evaporated heading home after dropping Ben off … as soon as I got back on I-526 traffic stopped. Sure enough… my worst suspicion came true at the next blinking road sign /overhang -“Incident” ahead near exit 19-Be prepared to slow down.

First of all I would have been happy to slow down but for that to happen… the car must first be moving and traffic was at a standstill. Secondly… Does anyone know why the term ” incident ” has replaced the word ” accident ” -who are we fooling here-everybody sitting in their cars knows there was a car accident… we can take the truth!

Finally… the traffic started moving again and I was relieved the two cars involved and the people inside seemed fine-just a ” fender bender” and some scratches.

I was on the last leg of my trip home-cutting through the Lincolnville ” short-cut” when suddenly I saw several police cars and uniformed policeman blocking off the road-it was a police check. So close but yet so far to home.

I started scrounging through my purse for all the papers and driver’s license-but when it came my turn to roll down the window…the officer just smiled, tipped his cap and motioned me forward… was it an ” angel” ( who heard me praying I hoped I had everything” ) or simply the fact that a certain woman of a certain age was probably harmless … one of the few benefits of growing older! 🤣

So until tomorrow…There’s no denying that we lose a lot of things as we grow older -but the one most critical element that no one should ever lose is their sense of humor. God has a great one… I have experienced it on many occasions-yesterday just being one of them ! 🤣 Quack, Gobble, Neigh!

Today is my favorite day -Winnie the Pooh

Today is also a benchmark day for my ” guardian angel” Linda Carson, my first oncology nurse whose smile and optimism pulled me through the first challenging cycles of chemo… and always she had an orange tootsie roll pop for me and little Eva Cate who also came to be with Boo Boo.

Linda and Eva Cate

Today is Linda’s last day of work- –Retirement Day and I know of no one more deserving than the angel who held my hand and whose smile spoke volumes-compassion, hope, and love! She never let me get down!

Speaking for all the hundreds, if not thousands, of patients lucky enough to have you by their side… ” Thank you Linda from the bottom of my heart! Now get out there and go see some of this big beautiful world”!!!

Please keep Mike and Honey and family in your prayers as all are gathered around Mike’s beloved mother-Winnie.

Update on Libby-she has been home a week with lots of family and caregivers helping her through these challenging recovery stages! Thank you for your prayers!

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 Life is Never Dull

  1. Jo Dufford says:

    Well, you got to say that lady, horse, added a lot of laughter to your day. Some people are forgettable, but not that one. Other people you spoke to yesterday won’t leave a footprint. So keep on quacking. I just thought wonder who That lady would think I was? I’d like it if she said eagle, but if I can’t fly high, I’d take a duck. Could be worse. She could call me a pig. You had a memorable day. There would be many who couldn’t have kept a sense of humor. I love the fact that you stopped and sat on that bench just to enjoy nature. And who knew you might have been watching your duck friends! Congratulations to Linda! Thank you, for all that you have done for others. Glad Libby is home.

    • Becky Dingle says:

      Jo…you nailed it….I watched the ducks swimming at Mandy’s before picking Ben up and eating so maybe I just wanted to be with my “people!” 🙂 🙂 🙂

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