The Dingalings Ring Their Bells into a New Year

CEDAR RAPIDS - In the front row, Gerry Burian, 78, (right) rings her yellow bells with a definite purpose each time a yellow oval shows up on the flash card.

Bessie Beauregard, 85, seated next to her watches for turquoise ovals while Bruce Mesplay, 54, rings his bell on blue.

They are among the 14 Dingalings of the Garnett Place Retirement Community who played a debut concert last week at Lindale Mall's center court.

"I love it," says Gerry with an enthusiasm echoed by the others.

"I like music, but I never played anything in my life," adds Bessie.

Such are the opportunities for the Dingalings, a bell choir formed more than a year ago as a fun activity that now spreads senior citizen cheer.

Diane Fulknier, a volunteer with 50 years of music experience, much of it in churches, had used the flash card bell choir idea before. It's perfect, she says, for people of all ages with limited musical experience.

"When they see the colors," she says, "they ring their bells."

Director Cathy Hulbert-Boyes, activities coordinator at Garnett Place, taps her feet for the rhythm as she opens the concert with "Oh, Holy Night." One song after another swells the mall audience of all ages.

"We are the Dingalings," Cathy says to proud smiles from her choir. "We are going to go on tour this year. This is our first appearance."

Each member wears a bright red shirt so you can't miss them.

"Let me introduce you to our oldest member," Cathy says. "Gladys McShane (left)  is 99. She doesn't use a walker, a cane or a hearing aid."

Timidly, Gladys stands and waves.

"Look at her," Cathy says. "She's beautiful."

Too poor to have instruments as she grew up on a farm west of Cedar Rapids, Gladys eagerly joined the Dingalings. When she recently celebrated her birthday she didn't blow out all 99 candles on purpose. "I saved one for the 100th," she smiles. And she wasn't nervous at all about her first public appearance.

"I knew I had company," she says, pointing to fellow second row Dingalings Wilma Larson and Thea Gorman.

In the back row, Ruby Klein, 71, didn't let a slow healing broken left femur stop her. She sits in a wheelchair ringing her bell, recalling how she played the saxophone in high school band at Waukon.

"I've always wanted to play the bells," Ruby says. "When the opportunity came, I jumped on it quick."

Ruby also suggested adding men to the bell choir. "I told them," she laughs, "we needed some power."

If the group was going to tour, it also needed a bus. Garnett Place acquired one in June.

"Now that they have a bus," Diane says, "the sky's the limit. Look out Broadway."

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