Amidst the struggles we all face, I’m sure there are times when we wonder if a single person can make a difference. Economic, social, political, and cultural challenges abound, and it is easy to become overwhelmed. Still, there are always individuals who have blazed trails for us, and whose lives have left indelible marks on those they encounter.
Recently, my dear friend Elayne has been facing some extremely serious health issues. Not surprisingly, her circle of friends have come together to support her, and each other. Sadness and hope mix, but memories arise and remind me of just how impactive her life has been on mine, and on so many others.
Many years ago, Elayne opened a place called GaGa. It was in a small store front on Broadway between Orizaba and Temple that, on the surface, was a basic coffee house. It was much more, though. On its walls were monthly exhibitions of local artists, many who were students having their first show outside of school. Inside the front door, on many evening, local bands would share original songs.
I can’t count the number of times I played there, plunking on my acoustic fretless bass and belting out songs with my friend Brian Nelson, who also wrote, sang, and played guitar. There was no stage, or even a PA. I’d bring my home stereo and plug radio shack microphones into it. Our early shows were terrifying, and probably not that great, but Elayne was wonderfully supportive and allowed us to discover our creative voice. Eventually, the terror abated and the feeling of playing in that room became magical.
Still, there was more. It was a place for ideas to flourish, to be shared, and respectfully argued. Socialists, anarchists, conservatives, liberals, and folks of every race, creed, and color found a safe space to be themselves, and to express their hearts and minds. Scientists, academics, artists, students, and homeless folks were welcomed.
These things didn’t just happen accidentally, by the way. This was Elayne’s egalitarian vision, and by sharing it she brought people together who might have never met otherwise, and whose connections have continued long after GaGa closed.
There’s one last thing about GaGa that can’t be overlooked: The coffee. Elayne has always prided herself on making the best coffee, and her commitment to the bean has bordered on religious fervor. She found a massive Italian espresso machine which probably cost and weighed as much as a Fiat, and which was the centerpiece of GaGa. She only used the best coffee, and people from miles around spoke in hushed tones of the brew she served.
Eventually, economic realities pushed her back into the practice of family law, but she handed off GaGa to her good friend Toni Richard and her son, Jason, who kept it running for several years. When GaGa closed, I was fortunate enough to sing the last song to be performed there. It was called “Already Home.”
If you have memories of Gaga, please post them as comments here and, while you’re at it, send Elayne some good thoughts.