Toogoodoo Forever…

Dear Reader:

You might remember a couple of years ago I began researching names unique to the Edisto Island and it’s surrounding areas. This research has unveiled interesting unknown facts buried in the past…

The first name was Dawhoo -the name of Brooke’s street, a bridge , river, landing… I could go on and on. One sees a lot of Dawhoo name-plate signs. I “assumed” it must have been a subsidiary tribe of the Edisto Indians. Wrong!

Dawhoo is a type of stilt and porous sand composition found in the creation of this indigenous island land formation. Historically ” dawhoo” was created as a secret code word for ” a mile” when residents were warned how close Sherman’s invading army was to the sea island during the Civil War.

Toogoodoo is another unfamiliar name that pops up on back roads, communities, civic centers, etc. For me… it makes me smile as I think of all the possibilities behind the origin of the name.

Last night was our ” big” Ya’s night out-” Break Bread Together” meal! We returned to the Yachtsman Club where we went last fall. Delicious food and most importantly drop-dead gorgeous water-front views!

There is something special about coming together for a special meal with beautiful scenery reminding us how lucky we are to be together… to be alive.

From now on… this traditional meal will be named: Toogoodoo Night! It is a name given to the creek and surrounding area by the Bantu ( African slaves who worked the plantation sea houses.

Loosely translated it means: ” I have plenty- Life is bountiful!

So until tomorrow… As we looked across the table last night at each other…after that delicious seafood dinner… we all let out a sigh of contentment – not just for the food but in gratitude for the opportunity to reunite our lives once again… it was definitely ” too good” … so we must ” do” it again! Our annual ” Toogoodoo”” Night!”

Today IS my favorite day- Winnie the Pooh

And the beat goes on… thankfully!
So picturesque at the Yacht Club! And the food was fabulous!
Love my crab cakes!

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.”
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

1 Response to Toogoodoo Forever…

  1. Rachel Edwards says:

    Toogoodoo brings back memories of Tim Touchberry…Fred…William…etc going shrimping at the Toogoodoo River…many moons ago…glad you are having fun…

Leave a Reply