I was fortunate to be part of a club and a localized scene back in the 80s that was so different in a Dallas, Texas world, and brought all the crazies there out of the woodwork as well as from around the globe.

The Club Clearview and Art bar and Cafe for 20 years entertained everybody from A-to-Z - famous, infamous and unknowns - punks, politicians, hippies, yuppies, puppies, cowboys, fashionistas, rockstars, wackadoodles, freaks, off duty police and homeless stragglers - all during and after hours in those years.

The scene in part with my influences melded into a microcosm of an apolitical, open minded, respectful, hip, and cool vibe. Seems we lost touch a bit with that somehow in recent years, but a comeback is due. And No that wasn't a political statement or stance.

Back then the carousing hoi polloi at the club would pull me aside. “Don’t tell anybody you saw me here“. “Of course not your secret is safe with me”, answering with a chuckle. Kinda like what we tell each other when we find ourselves shopping at Goodwill. I remarked to my daughter once who thought it was really grimy to shop there when we saw one of her teachers there and said hello. “See that’s one of your coolest teachers. I told you this was a great place. “ She acquiesced and made a purchase.

So back in the 80s, Dallas discovered its little bit of weird but Austin, Texas claimed to be the capital of Weird. I think they even invented the bumper sticker. Keep Austin Weird. I’ve seen other locales like Portland and Vashon Island borrow that adage. Truth is Austin was cool and weird in the 80s and then all the influx of people that wanted to be cool and come rub elbows with those hipsters, more or less diluted the scene and my friends there purport that too many wanna be people priced out the weird.

Nothing against Austin. I still love it not as much as I used to and have the best of friends down there and am planning a visit during a leg of the None of The Answers book tour there this year. It will be really exciting. I enjoyed it in the early years helping launch SXSW, which was just pure magic, but now for me it’s all about getting together with the great family and friends down there and checking out favorite haunts. We will make it weird and fun again for a long weekend.

The world has gone crazy and we need to cut loose and let a little of our inner good craycray out. Trust that gut don’t be afraid to let your hair down and speak your mind without toxicity. Follow your heart live with no regrets. Then when you’re done with all that it’ll be time for you to write your book.

And do it.