One memory from my childhood was our annual trip to Grandmother’s house at Christmas. The road we took back in the fifties and early 60’s were the backroads between Fayetteville and Laurens… mostly along country roads with lots of cattle so we kids played the old game of ” CountingCows” …but if you passed a cemetery ( through your side of the car window) you lost all your cows and most likely the game too…unless your opponent brother( David) ran into more cemeteries than you. As soon as we saw the town of Laurens sign … we proclaimed the winner with the most cows left….
There were many quaint little rural towns along the way but we always stopped to eat lunch in Pendleton at the same restaurant-forget the name but the owner recognized us every Christmas and gave us kids candy for the rest of the trip. Loved that tradition!
The town was going through hard times as we recognized old houses succumbing to desertion and time.
We always left the restaurant to go to the general store that had a sign inside that read ” What’s Old is New” ( I never “got it” as a child… but mother nodded and always said ” Amen.” )
Today on New Year’s Eve …writing my Happy New Year 2024 post…let’s all look on this new year as another opportunity at living the very best life we can while retaining our own good memories that we should take with us … the OLD into the NEW!
Case in point: My magical Christmas Planter. Look and see the new miracles arriving just in time to greet the New Year!
A new stalk shot up six inches above the dying original stalk to get to the light replacing five withering blossoms … by tomorrow at least two blossoms should be blooming and three more blossoms by the next day… five blossoms gone …replaced by five new bright blooms… the ” old replaced by the “new!”🤞🤞🤞
Around two am Sunday morning… I went to the restroom and to get some water-the new stalk was leaning way over… found some green leftover ribbon and secured it to the original stalk ! ! It is happy again and I pulled off the withered original blooms!
Anne came to see me yesterday and brought much love in friendship and ” magical” readings!
This is her favorite book -can hardly wait!
The Palms has new gorgeous flower arrangements changed every three or four days and guess who was discovered in front of a Christmas ornament –SAMMY! 😁Yes It Is!!!May love and kindness follow you into the New Year! Today Winnie the Pooh …is New Year’s Day –My Favorite Day
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.”
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
Happy New Year Becky…love you…
Back at you Ging
Sent from my iPhone
I look forward to your post every day! You bring me joy and I’m so grateful to whoever told me about you while we were visiting South Carolina.
Happy. New Year Becky! Thanks for all the years of stories and best wishes for the coming year.
Happy New year to you and family Becky… May God bless you all with good health, prosperity and happiness… loads of love and prayers…