I have long felt that life is like a series of links in a chain. You might be driving down the road and you hear a song on the radio, or see a picture, and you feel a memory….
Something triggers within you that reminds of a different time and place than where you are right now. You reflect and discover the attached memories, perhaps a totally different time in your life.
Perhaps you lived in a different place. Perhaps you were surrounded by different people. Perhaps a different job or completely different friends. You recognize those memories were constructed like frozen moments in time. They became individual links in the chain in your life. That song on the radio takes you back to that link.
We never actually realize, in the immediate moment, when one link closes and another link begin. But when we look back, we can clearly see distinct points where things changed, the link closed, and a new link began. You see, the links are only visible in reflection.
No singer, songwriter or musician is as deeply embedded in the links of my life, as Jimmy Buffett. This one hurts.
[SOURCE]
In the video below, Jimmy Buffett is wearing my shoes.
.
The historic Sanibel Lighthouse survived Hurricane Ian, albeit with damage last year.
The lightkeepers house was totally destroyed as were all the buildings around the Southern tip of the Island, but the Lighthouse remained standing. There’s a metaphor and a message in that outcome.
Since 1884, every twelve seconds the Sanibel lighthouse beacon blinked twice, creating a sequence of four navigational alerts per minute.
Ask me how I know that, and I will show you the clock of my childhood.
I learned how to read a sextant on the front porch of the Lightkeepers house.
I traded Mr. Brennan 4 fresh trout from Dixie Beach flats for the lessons, there were two (one day and one night), on using a sextant. From that moment at the age of around ten, I was known as “Trout” when I came back. It wasn’t funny.
Long before there was a ‘city glow’ on the eastern shore, the Sanibel beacon remained my waypoint in life. Twelve seconds, blink twice, four per minute. I spent tens of thousands of minutes with the comforting beacon at my six. I was always safe when I could see it and I never strayed beyond its reach.
My first bull shark took me for an almost 1,000 blink-long tour of the back bay inlet during a particularly memorable night.
I also ‘caught‘ my first Silver King within reach of the beacon at sunrise. Recording the moment by removing (then laminating) the trophy scale which to this day sits in an old cigar box filled with buttons, wire, ribbons, weird metal bits and mysterious childhood treasures.
That particular morning was exceptionally memorable because I proclaimed myself a ‘king fisher.’ Unfortunately, it was a short-lived moment of ego quickly deflated by an unusually furious mom – because I was going to be late for middle school. “King Fisher” shouts I, dashing out the door, while hearing “fisher fool” chasing my ear from behind.
Yup, Jimmy Buffett is attached to more of my memories than any other artist.
… always will be.
I can, and do, appreciate his music…he was an icon of my younger days and many of his songs are truly odes to a simpler age that unfortunately is no more!
However, as a believer in salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, I simply cannot acquiesce to the idea that someone whose music I liked, but who never, to my knowledge made any profession of faith, in any way, shape or form, is in the presence of God, simply because he wrote sweet, fun, touching music!
Sundance’s tribute was both poignant and uplifting and I mourn alongside of him for a talent that was both unique and uplifting. I can leave aside the politics, as I do with many of the performers and bands which I still love, but I do draw a line at the idea that everyone goes to Heaven just because they gave someone joy while they walked the Earth. I do sincerely hope that in his final months or days he thought about eternity in a way that maybe he hadn’t before…
Fox had a nice tribute.
RIP – Legendary singer Jimmy Buffett dead at 76
https://commoncts.blogspot.com/2023/09/rip-legendary-singer-jimmy-buffett-dead.html
I always liked singing along to his great songs.
Jimmy Buffet was a bit of a vax enthusiast (I had a different word in mind originally). He required China Virus vaccines to attend his concerts. A reminder that all are fallible, but as a pilot he should have known better.
That said, as a DIEHARD George Strait fan I thought the concerts with Buffet, Strait, and Alan Jackson were a hoot. Those three seemed to have a genuine rapport even though they likely didn’t all align politically.
God must have loved Jimmy Buffet as his son Jesus was born the same day Dec 25 1946.
Just saying
Good night all !!
I don’t think Christ was actually born on that day, FWIW. That’s just when we celebrate it.
True. But God will sort it out in the end.
Almost all of my friends got the vaccine including traditional democrats and conservative Trump voters. I know more people who did than not. Most of them, sadly, believed the media.
I’m not going to apply a vaccine purity test when determining a friend. I am more a “You Find Out Who Your Friends Are” by Tracy Lawrence kind of person.
Okay. Good bye. What a classy individual you are.
Nice comments from the Mayor….and watching the video of JB…he was a really happy guy…you can see it while he was singing and strumming…just a happy guy doing what he loved….ah I can forgive his vaccine stance…
TMZ was reported to have said his cause of death was skin cancer gone onto Lymphoma.
He spent a lot of time in the sun. Skin cancer that spreads is deadly.
Thank you Sundance for your beautiful tribute to Jimmy Buffett. Listening to some of his songs today brought back so many memories. I loved the comments from the people who grew up with him. He knew who he was , seemed grounded and had a joy that many people today are missing.
Fare thee well Jimmy, and thanks for the joy and memories!
Possible Fun Fact: The first margarita reportedly was made in 1938 by Carlos “Danny” Herrera at the Rancho la Gloria hotel bar in Baja near Ensenada. He used lemon juice along with the tequila and Cointreau. It was first served to Hollywood B-actress Marjorie King, who apparently only tolerated tequila as other spirits made her feel ill.
The first margarita (allegedly) that was served in the United States was at a now-demolished Mexican tavern-themed bar, La Plaza, in La Jolla California in 1947. One story was that the La Jolla gentleman who owned La Plaza had flown down to Acapulco to a party hosted by a rich Mexican socialite who served margaritas. He liked the drink so much, he came home and had his bartender, Albert Rincon Hernandez make one (with lime instead of lemon juice, crushed ice, and salted rim). La Plaza, also frequented by famed detective novelist (and drinker) Raymond Chandler and his older English stage actress wife as they lived a few blocks away near Sun Gold Point overlooking Bird Rock, was located adjacent to the La Jolla Methodist Church (6063 La Jolla Blvd. (which originally was the Spanish Revival-style “San Carlos” trolley station built in 1924 and named, like other stations along the line after the California Missions built by St. Junipero Serra). As the Methodists were not too overjoyed as being the landlord for a drinking establishment, tore the place down and erected a parish hall in its place. La Plaza looked like a pretty building in its heyday with the white Spanish stucco walls and red tile roof. (My late physician uncle was one of Mr. Chandler’s doctors and was the one who pronounced him dead on March 27, 1959 at age 71 of pneumonia that he had battled for a few days. It is unknown of margaritas played a role in his death. He had been depressed and tried to commit suicide a few years before when his wife died and started to drink more. Of course, Chandler created the memorable quip about La Jolla that applies now as way back then; “La Jolla …a place where old people live….. with their parents!”)
My oldest sister had Jimmy’s Double album in high-school and we liked his songs. Back then in the heyday of beach-bum life 1975-1983 in La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and Mission Beach, everyone looked like Jimmy and his girlfriend. Every 3rd car was a VW Bug. A friend was able to get tickets last May to his show in San Diego and it was a great and mellow time. All those people from that older era were there too, many in scooters and wheelchairs, with THEIR grown kids. Look up videos of “Tugs Tavern” to get the vibe at that time.
In, out and around San Diego several times over my life. Last residence was overlooking the Crystal Pier.
I recommend to you ‘The California I Love’ by Leo Carrillo. Carrillo was Pancho in ‘The Cisco Kid and namesake of the State Park. Old California, the real thing.
Super rich dem hrc supporter and a draft dodger also.
He was a bit strong on the China Virus “vaccine” but not in terms of FREEDOM. That’s disappointing.
Super rich: I don’t care. He earned his money. He invested wisely. Good for him.
HRC supporter: Unfortunate but many people are blinded. I am sure that being in the presence of God, he now knows the Truth.
Draft Dodger: I highly recommend anyone who gets drafted into the military TODAY make a run for it. He was ahead of his time and knew that the Vietnam war was a meat grinder for young, working class men. I approve of Draft Dodging.
Condolences, Sundance. New Orleans…and indeed the whole Gulf Coast…
mourns his loss.
He brought much joy with his music and will be greatly missed.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/saints-issue-statement-on-the-death-of-longtime-fan-jimmy-buffett/ar-AA1g8Uhl
I love ‘em all because of the irreverent and laid back attitude. My life long favorite (since I was about 17) is Come Monday. My husband was in the hospital prepping for major emergency surgery and I was pregnant with hormones tearing up my emotions. I had to drive to his doctor’s office for lab results and Come Monday played three times on the radio during that 30 minute ride; I was never so grateful for a DJ messing up!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen Jimmy perform live and it was always a treat. I appreciate how he’d warn parents (or grandparents) to cover the youngster’s ears before playing that one song about what to do after getting drunk! My favorite line of his, though, is “I’d rather die while I’m living than live while I’m dead”.
I’m pretty sure sure you did that, Jimmy, and I hope you’re sailing with your granddad now…you will be missed!
“Wearing my shoes”
Beautiful!
Cheap two bit gossip = more than disrespectful.
He could have been hired to do a show there. You really don’t know, to imply anything else is pure speculation and more than a little disrespectful.
This isn’t gossip:
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/its-vax-o-clock-somewhere-jimmy-buffett-welcomes-fans-to-blossom-if-theyre-vaccinated-or-tested
This isn’t speculation or maybes:
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jimmy-buffetts-trump-dis-supporting-florida-democrat-andrew-gillum-angers-fans-way-alienate-half-people-buying-music-155706517.html
I guess Jimmy Buffet REALLY doesn’t live in Key West anymore
Saw him in Bellingham, WA `76 +/- in the local theater first time. The next year he came back and played in a hanger at the airport. College days, my links in the chain. I prefer to remember those links and not the later days in his career. Thanks Sundance!
A fond memory:
Standing a quiet watch as the Squadron Duty Officer early spring 1989 at NAS Cecil Field Jacksonville, FL. All was quiet because in several days the squadron along with the airwing was leaving for a 2 month training deployment aboard the USS America (CV-66) and everyone was home spending time with family prior to departure. I take a call from a gentleman looking for our Air Wing Landing Signal Officer (CAG LSO) who flew with our squadron. I replied that he was not here at the moment, could I forward a message. He said to let the CAG LSO know that Jimmy Buffet called. I paused, a bit in disbelief, which he recognized and prompted him to reiterate that in fact he was actually Jimmy Buffett. I asked for his number but he declined to provide it saying CAG LSO knew it. I dutifully wrote the message but reluctantly placed it in CAG LSO’s ready room mail bin as I thought someone was playing a prank. About an hour later the CAG LSO walked into the ready room and I told him that a guy called claiming to be Jimmy Buffett. He informed me that yes he was expecting the call. He didn’t tell me any details as everything at that point was “hush-hush.” Turns out that CAG LSO was coordinating a VIP ride for Jimmy in the back seat of a Tomcat to bag some traps (carrier landings). In return Jimmy and his band, to be flown aboard on the C-2, would play a concert in the hangar bay for the ship’s crew and the air wing the following day. A couple weeks later, after completing our ship & airwing operational readiness evaluation known as the “3 day war” of high tempo ops off the coast of Puerto Rico, Jimmy showed up as planned. After his Tomcat ride he dropped by our squadron ready room grinning ear-to-ear. Hung out with us talking airplanes and picking our brains about flying Hornets from the boat, cruise life, and swapping flying/sea stories. He toured the boat to see it all in action and spent time with as many sailors as possible. I know that he was an aviator and thrilled to get that backseat ride of a lifetime, but once on the ship, he focused on interacting with crew in the most humble way possible, showing his appreciation for their sacrifice and service. His band showed up later on the C-2 and the next day they played for the most appreciative crowd I’ve ever seen. The hangar bay acoustics were horrible but that never dampened the enthusiasm of Jimmy, his band, or the sailors and airmen cheering them on. He was a good man, may God rest his soul.
Far winds and following seas Jimmy
That kinda thing happened to me.
I was Flag Secretary to the Navy Region commander and took a call on a typically busy day. The voice said “Son is Capt MCCxxxx in?”. I asked who this was, he said “Charlie Daniels”. I asked, and who do you work for?
Looong pause … “Son, I’m self employed”.
I put him through. Turned out they were friends.
Sorry to hear of Jimmy Buffett’s leaving too. Part of the soundtrack for so many of us back then.
He was quite the pilot. Though had one screw many years ago landing an old Grumman (I think) amphib he’d restored up in the head of the harbor in Nantucket. Tripped it over and damn near killed himself. We were on island at the time. All anyone talked about for a week. But apparently still the happy go lucky guy with the Coast Guard and EMS folks, even with his head pretty beat up. Signing autographs, joking around until they finally stat flighted him out of Cottage Hospital to Boston.
Privilege accorded to very few.
I’ve read numerous comments and need to make my own.
I was more Jerry Jeff than Jimmy back in the 70s and then learned of A1A and fell in love with the music. Not sure how many of his concerts I have gone to… Little Rock, Memphis, Dallas, Houston. And yes I am a parrothead.
Was Jimmy a screaming lib , yes! But you know what, I have many screaming liberal friends that I/we love dearly,
RIP, Jimmy
“Charlie Dunn, he’s the one to see”
He is the only liberal I know that could make millions of people feel happy and sing their hearts out. I don’t think he fits into the category of a screaming liberal, yeah, he may have been one, but he didn’t scream it like most of the others have done. For me he fits in the grace the lib category, not many I can say that about.
I have had so many good times at his shows, and his fans are just the BEST. I will miss him and I am sad to see him cross the bar.
Crossing the Bar
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
1809 – 1892
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have cross’d the bar.
As you grow older, more and more things vanish from reality, whether people, places, etc. When we hear of their demise, it brings back memories, snapshots of a past that perhaps we haven’t thought of for a while, or perhaps thought that they were long forgotten. There are people that were important at various times in your life, places that had meaning, etc. When returning to my childhood home, many years after my family had left, I was heartbroken to see the changes in the house, the road, the people who now lived there. I feel that our life is like a river, where you are on a boat with people, things and places that you hold dear. One by one, those passengers leave your boat and step on to the shore. For a while you look back and see them there, as you and your boat move further away and continue to travel on. And every once in a while, something happens that forces you to come to terms with life moving on. It’s bittersweet.
So well said!
as a former pirate and smuggler, I am sitting here with huge tears rolling down My cheek listening to the music of a fellow pirate. I have seen him in concert from South Florida to Red Rocks.
I believe there’s a lot of people we know, grew up listening to, watching, that are in Epstein’s little black book. Sexual crimes are majorly covered up, and EVERYTHING done to hide them. I believe a lot of people are NOT what you think they are! Sad to find out and shocking sometimes. But some can live a hidden life very, very easily. Sorry, but true.
“Some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic
But I’ve had a good life all the way.”
Someone suggested if he ever were going to retire that he’d end a tour in Paris and close
the last concert with that. He did end a tour in Paris a few years back. But he never did retire.
I love so many others that were just downright FUN!
You can’t walk on a beach, eat a cheeseburger, drink a margarita or any ‘boat drinks’, without smiling and thinking of Jimmy.
Damn sure gonna miss him.
Same memories as a kid growing up in the old FtL in the late 60s/early 70s. Back in the “Pink Crustacean White Sportcoat” era you’d only hear his songs on WAIA which later incorporated a line from “Trying to Reason w/Hurricane Season” into their station ID. He played a couple bar gigs at place my uncle managed on the FtL strip—might have been before first album came out. Apparently a thoroughly likable guy in person—Everything up to the Cheeseburger album instantly evokes the old Florida where I mostly grew up. RIP, the pirate has finally gone home.
You and I probably dated, or at drank in the Elbo Room or Yankee Clipper
ah yes, the Elbo Room mid 1950’s…..
Jimmy Is Now Having His “Cheeseburger In Paradise”
A Pirate Looks at Eternity.
RIP
My younger brother has been a Parrothead forever.
The real fun at a Jimmy Buffett concert was the parking lot before the concert.
I carried the Rules for Life put together by Freddy Fishtick for years.
Literally until they disintegrated in my wallet. #2 was always my favorite.
I think these are them:
Freddie’s rules for living:
Lesson #1: Never forget – they are always the enemy.
Lesson #2: Just remember, assholes are born that way, and they usually
don’t change.
Lesson #3: You do not ever want to go to jail.
Lesson #4: When you start to take this job seriously, you’re in trouble.
Lesson #5: It takes no more time to see the good side of life than it
takes to see the bad.
Lesson #6: If you decide to run with the ball, just count on fumbling and
getting the shit knocked out of you a lot, but never forget how much fun it is just to be able to
run with the ball.
I think I need to re-print and start carrying them again.
Fair winds, Jimmy.
God’s Own Drunk and a fearless man………
I loved that line.
As a singer of songs and a travellin’ man, Jimmy would want you to know it was from a rap by hipster comedian Lord Richard Buckley recorded 1n 1959.
Very cool. Thanks for that.
“That’s when I saw the bear… when I woke up my old buddy the bear was a missing…. and so was that still”
I once paddled a surfboard out to Jimmy’s sail boat when sailed into Waimea Bay and anchored for few hours. I think it was the summer of 1977. From that day on I was a huge fan. He is part of many of my most precious memories. I will miss attending his shows with my many parrothead friends. May he rest in paradise.
A very interesting and nice tribute to Jimmy that aligned well with my thoughts. When I listen to his songs my mind flashes back to serene moments spent in Key West with my family. We vacationed there every spring break to absorb sunshine and mellow out from harsh winters in PA. Although there is only one great Jimmy Buffet, we enjoyed listening to copy cat singers at various establishments in Key West.
Changes in latitudes Changes in attitudes.
Sorry for your loss.
hey hey LA . we love you Lucy and Jimmy
for the record. LA = lower alabama
Sorry to hear about Jimmy’s passing. He was a great contributor to the American music scene. Come Monday was my personal favorite song.
I do not mix politics with music, art or film. Jimmy’s political leanings were his choice, just like mine are my own.
Respect, compassion, love and understanding go a long way.
Rest in Peace Jimmy Buffett
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/watch-jimmy-buffett-roasts-trump-in-song-at-biden-hillary-rally/ar-AA1g9wGk
I really enjoyed reading everyone’s connections to Jimmy, some connections are more direct than others. Mine are more indirect than most who chose to share.
My father, who I lost a few years ago, was a local musician. He never hit it big, but loved to play. My earliest memory of him playing to me is “Come Monday”. Over the years I heard him play many songs and watched him learn some of them. “Come Monday” will always mean something special to me.
Regarding political comments, God blesses everyone with some talents. Some of those he blesses then bless the rest of us by sharing their talents. If I let politics choose the music I like, I likely wouldn’t like very much.
Godspeed to a Pirate
Who lets politics choose their music? Your library would be a couple of 3rd tier bands. I look at it as one less Democrat voter and celebrated with a couple of Jimmy’s tunes yesterday.
I quit getting my politics from artists years ago. Many artists never made the transition from the liberal cultural default of their youth like so many of us did. Nevertheless, they could speak to the Human Condition and touch us.
Yeah, Jimmy was a lefty. Too bad. So was his hero, Mark Twain–who is mentioned in the Bible, by the way. Our God can use Mark Twain or his student Jimmy. I assure you many of Jimmy’s fans are MAGA, as witnessed by these comments.
Most of us have family or friends on the other side. We don’t generally hate their guts. In fact, we should pray for them. But reducing every aspect of life to Politics is what the Left does. It is Totalism–a kind of Totalitarianism. It forecloses the human connection. It’s one of the things that got us here. Let’s not copy them.
Who’s gonna’ steal the peanut butter?
Rest in the Vine: Jimmy Buffett, R.I.P.
Seems fitting in a way, that Jimmy sailed off into the sunset right before the last official weekend of summer.
I’ve always hoped that when I exit, it’s at the end of the most beautiful summer of my life.
I think the saddest thing in all of this is that I liked his music but hated his rabid liberal politics and at the end was unable to separate the two because of his disdain for mine, and others like me, beliefs.
Mr. Buffet was a hippie and I have learned one thing about hippies, they either grow-up and grow out of their hippie ways or they become worse…he became worse. I am sorry he passed, just as I am sorry that anyone passes, but I hope and pray that he was right with Jesus before he passed.
Karen I have been reading these tearful posts mourning the passing of a committed leftist that was the antithesis of good, hard working, moral, and patriotic Americans……and I’m amazed but not surprised that so called “conservatives” would just absolutely swoon over this guy just because he could play guitar and sing!! That’s why we are losing the America we knew and grew up in. Conservatives don’t fight leftists with a passion, as a matter of fact, conservatives mostly go along with un-American ideology for some reason. I don’t understand it….
“Oh but I just love his songs, they speak to a special time in my life”….he laughed at all of you conservative dweebs as he was depositing millions that you paid him. He supported and promoted those policies and people who advance grooming children for sexual exploitation, he supported those who believe in genital mutilation of children….drag queens…..pornography in school libraries…..killing unborn babies……government shutdowns…..killing off the middle class economically……he supported homosexual gigolos, and he stood for everything that I am against, and that all of you should be also.
I hope he was right with Jesus, but I certainly not sad he’s dead, I’m simply ambivalent.
It simple. to us conservatives and libertarians, a person is measured for a lot more than their political viewpoints.
To measure a person based on their politics is what the Left does.. do we want to go there?
Mind you, at some point politics needs to be resolved, yes… to paraphrase Mao, at the point of a gun… but until then, I do enjoy Buffet’s music.
The past several years (more so since Covid) this feeling keeps surfacing; when great musicians and songwriters pass that have been a part of your life or a songs that resonated during a period of my life their passing is just like losing a good friend. There needs to be time to grieve the loss. Jimmy Buffett’s music was part of my life for a time. I feel like I lost a long lost friend and the sadness that comes with that loss brings back the memories of his music, his songs, my friends and the period of my that life it filled.
The blessing about music is it will always be there. Jimmy has done his part and left us with a little bit of joy and his words and sounds will be there for the rest of our lives.
Rest In Peace Jimmy and my God’s grace be on your family in this time of loss.
I loved Buffet, I remember driving past his A1A album cover photo shoot,,and Sanibel was my family’s happy place, my late mother did all the murals and floors in my aunties house, all reduced to a pile of rubble….miss Buffet, miss Sanibel
Lymphoma. From skin cancer.
After the VAXX.
Fauci kills again.
Sorry for your emotional loss. Jimmy was the only person from Florida that I ever wanted to meet until I started reading here years ago. He’ll remain in my memories and heart till my dying day too brother.
Banning myself voluntarily and permanently.
No thanks.
Well reflected. I for sure feel like I know you better. Thanks for sharing!.
While Jimmy has left us, what he has left behind for us will be with us for all eternity. He is no further away than the push of a button on the jukebox, car radio or scrolling for your favorite Jimmy Buffett song. May he rest in peace.
I and a group of old high school buddies (late 70s) keep in touch, sometimes on Facebook but also by sending texts to the group of 12. When the news broke of Jimmy’s passing, I alerted the group by texting “I blew out my flip-flop . . . .{palm tree on island}. The group had been quiet for a couple of weeks but I really jump-started it yesterday! One couple was at a bar called Beaches, having a drink called a Five-oclock Somewhere.
Margaritaville came out my junior year in high school.
I don’t have any Jimmy Buffett memories, good, bad, or otherwise. Never was much of a fan. He wasn’t a 60s British Rock Invasion band so I didn’t (and don’t) listen.
I have nothing to say. If you liked his music, I hope you’re not too sad about it. RIP.
This don’t sound so good Sundance. What do you think?
Mr. Margaritaville Goes to Cuba https://townhall.com/columnists/humbertofontova/2023/09/30/mr-margaritaville-goes-to-cuba-n2629138