What is that ringing sound you hear?

Well, it could very well be me and my 11-year-old daughter, who as of last night are members of our church handbell choir.

I’ve always loved handbells. I think I started playing in 9th grade and I played all through high school. That’s no small feat for a gal who can’t even read music, for sure, but handbells are the instrument of the musically challenged.

All it takes is a few highlighters to mark your notes, a little bit of rhythm and you’re off.

Our handbell group back then was comprised of high school-aged girls who pretty much cut up and goofed around while Mr. Scoggins tried to get us to play songs. I’m ashamed now to think of how we treated him.

After high school, I hung up my white gloves for many years, until my oldest child was 11 or 12, when we joined handbells at our church together. She was a musical child who played several instruments and could read music, so she could help me along when I didn’t understand how to count a measure or what was flat or sharp.

Then we got busy with other activities, changed churches, and fell away from ringing. Last Sunday, the choirs of our church were recruiting for the upcoming year. My baby came to me with a twinkle in her eye asking if we could join. There was no way I could deny her.

So we signed up, and last night, were assigned bells D and E (her), F and G (me). It turns out most of the other members are – uh – seasoned women, but they don’t have much more experience than we do, so we fit right in. And they like the little girl.

The rehearsals are on one of Dad’s two nights off a week and aren’t at the most convenient time, but in the end this experience is worth way more than it’ll ever cost us.

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