Author Archives: Becky Dingle

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.”

Simple Sanity at Home

Dear Reader: I decided quite awhile back…that my constant daily housekeeping opponent, dust, and I must reach some type of peace agreement. I compromised by telling “Mr. Dust” that I could live with a smattering, as seen on the coffee … Continue reading

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Me, Jakie, and Reverend “No No”

            Dear Reader: Poor little Jakie….the new word he hears a lot lately, is “NO!” “No Jakie, don’t grab that…you will pull the doll house over on you or “No Jakie, you can’t stand in … Continue reading

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When the Voice Inside Matches the Face

Dear Reader: When I was the social studies coordinator for the district, nothing made my day more than walking into classrooms where creative social studies lessons were taking place. Some times teachers would call to let me know they were … Continue reading

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A “Chewing the Cud” Kind of Day

Dear Reader: Have you ever had one of those days when your musings and ponderings seem to drift from one thought to another? It reminds me of a cow ‘chewing the cud’  or perhaps ruminating (the proper word) on a … Continue reading

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The Tragedy of a Joyless Life

Dear Reader: Do you, ever like me, think about the time-line period you are living in and give God thanks for letting it be now and not some other time in history? After Hugo blew through in 1989 I realized … Continue reading

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…”The Spinning of the Fickle Wheel of Life”

Dear Reader: Yesterday I ran across a humorous, but also poignant, commentary on how we treat the pizza deliverer…because it tells a lot about our own character. I have had many after school and part-time jobs from the age of … Continue reading

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You Can Go Home Again…

Dear Reader: My love affair with Eva’s Restaurant began in 1975 when I was pregnant with my first child, Mandy. The annual pre-season Summerville High School football camp, in Laurinburg, NC, was underway and I was due any day. So … Continue reading

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Clemson’s “Silver Packages”

Dear Reader: It is time to bring the wonderful Clemson football season to a close…yesterday I carefully packed up all the magazines, lucky tokens, newspaper clippings, tiger rags and other Clemson shirts/caps, scarves, and carefully packed them away until football … Continue reading

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Alone and Loneliness are Two Separate Words

Dear Reader: Since I live alone I have had several well-intentioned folks, over the years, ask me if I were not lonely living alone or afraid. I smile, shake my head, and reply “Neither…for most of the time I love … Continue reading

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…It’s Not You…It’s Not Me!

Dear Reader: It’s hard to believe that the day has finally arrived that Clemson fans, players, families, and coaches have dreamed about for a long time…decades in fact. I have enjoyed reading all the newspaper articles and watching the sports … Continue reading

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