Opening Bell

She sat alone.  Not because she was lonely, because she was early.  You know those people.  They're early and loyal.  And Debbi was that person.  Loyal.  I said,  "Do you come here often?" And yes, after it came out, I realized I had just addressed a woman in the corner of a local Dallas coffee shop with a creepy pick-up line.  

I have never been to Dallas.  After visiting the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, we checked our phones, like good hipsters, for a local coffee shop that was open. We came across the Opening Bell.  I called to see their hours, and if they were having live music that night.  "Yes, we are.  In fact, they're two men from Australia.  They'll start at eight."  

We arrived early, too.  I ordered a jalapeño kolache and an everything bagel for dinner.   I sat down, with my friends and saw Debbi.  She said she's been coming here for ten years now.  Over the years, she made friends with the owner, Pascale Hall.  

Simple "get-to-know-you" questions rambled out of my mouth, and about the third question in, I knew this woman was a gem.  I asked what she did.  She said she hasn't been working lately, due to some health issues.  I said, "Well, what about hobbies? What do you love to do?"  She said, "Music. I love to listen to live music."  

I got permission to record some of her stories:

"My very first concert was the Rolling Stones.  The first year they came to America.  It was after The Beatles had come and uh, it was just so awesome.  I've just seen some really fun shows.  You pay $3.50 for a ticket, and you'd see all these bands."  

"I remember my mother had a ticket, she was going to go see Ray Charles, and I had gone to downtown Fort Worth on a shopping trip and bought the single from the Beach Boys, 'God Only Knows'.  I came home, and then I went to my elementary school. They had a carnival, you know?  And I stayed too late, and I didn't come home in time, and my mother didn't get to go see Ray Charles.  I always felt so bad about that."

She said, she always let her kids go to concerts, and sometimes she tagged along, too.  She wanted her children to experience what she had when she was younger.

"Well, you know my dad, when The Beatles came to Dallas, he wouldn't let me go.  I think I was twelve.  He was afraid I would get hurt.  There was a girl who got pushed into some glass.  She had to go to the hospital.  My dad said, 'See?'  And I said, 'I know, but Paul McCartney called her!  That would have been worth it!!'  Or so I thought, hahaha."

Debbi was a doll.  She told me some of her story.  She has two beautiful children--one son and one daughter.  She's lived in Texas most of her life.  She asked if "man-buns" were still in. My friend and I, maybe too aggressively, laughed "YES!"  We shared stories and favorite bands/artists.  We shared our lives for a good amount of time.

Talking with Debbi, there is a distinct awe in her spirit.  She genuinely loves observing and appreciating people, music, and the environments around her.  She said she hasn't been able to do the things she used to do since she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She gracefully smiled and mentioned how music has never disappointed her.  Debbi is a light.  She doesn't shine on herself, but others.  Art is only beautiful when eyes like Debbi's delight in it.  She makes the art known and appreciated.  I told her I wanted to write about her, because she has been apart of making so many people famous, and now it was her turn.  

Debbi 

Opening Bell coffee shop is a new home for my heart.  The food was fantastic.  In addition to dinner (my kolache and a bagel), I got dessert, too—one chocolate and one red velvet cake pop, and a bottomless cup of their specialty drip coffee.  The owner, Pascale Hall, came to sit with Debbi and their friends, and I had the privilege to meet and praise her work.

Because of her shop, she has offered locals an opportunity to appreciate.  It is her beautiful gift to Dallas.  (Not just the wonderful food and beverages, but artists, too.)

Pascale, owner

Josh Rennie-Hynes and Steve Grandy are both Australian artists that were on an accident one-week tour in America.  Josh has a unique sound that relates to a blend between The Head and the Heart and Dallas Green from City and Colour.  My favorite song is called, “Lucy”. 

I was going to tell you how I felt, but it gets the better of me

I always tried to be the strong one, I tried to be what you need

But now I’m sitting by the railway station, I’m thinking

‘bout boarding that train

Maybe I’ll head down south again, although in winter it

Only rains

You could’ve called me your father, although it would’ve been

so strange

And I would’ve called you Lucy, I’ve always loved that name

Josh traded his album for a cup of peppermint tea.  I’ve been listening to his art and have enjoyed every song on his album February (also available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube).  He and I exchanged some information, and we plan on meeting next year for another tour.  (Maybe some local venues in Fayetteville and Tulsa?  Fingers crossed!  You don’t want to miss him.) 

(left to right) Steve Grady and Josh Rennie-Hynes

Thanks to Pascale and her beautiful artists den, I was gifted with a precious night.  If you find yourself in Dallas, please stop by the Opening Bell. 

Our role in humanity is to appreciate.  We were blessed with the ability to sense and appreciate—others, time, views, sounds, stories, food, man-buns, jokes, textures, favorite cotton t-shirts, smiles, freckles, long car drives, and everything else.