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.
“You see, the links are only visible in reflection.”
Yup. That’s why we study history. The more links, the longer the chain, and the longer the chain, with all its twists and kinks, the more clearly its general direction comes into focus.
Sorry for your loss.
I read he was a history major.
When my older son graduated with a degree in history, my younger son, who was an English major, commented that every one at the ceremony looked so serious!
My older son looked at him, with a very patient expression, and said, “We are History majors. We already know it’s going to turn out badly!”
so funny. you have some fabulous boys, there, mom!
Jimmy, The King of the Parrot Heads world wide, was my neighbor and friend when me, my brothers and Jimmy were just kids/young teenagers.
Unlike Elvis and so many others of fame that The Road Killed via drugs/alcohol and lose living, Mr. Buffet lived a very productive life aside from his troubadour music. He wrote several children’s books, developed a thriving restaurant chain and resorts business, “Margaritaville”, and continued to tour globally to delight his fans. His announced tour dates were Sold Out within days, world wide. Jimmy did enjoy a libation or two, but he earned them all.
His grand father, Captain Grant, was a retired tall ship captain that lived next door to my grandfather on Lake Yazoo in Pascagoula, MS.
Jimmy’s father rented a house from my grandfather across the street from our house and worked in my grandfather’s shipyard, Ingalls, before taking a job in a Mobile yard and moving there with Jimmy and his mother.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jimmy+Buffett%E2%80%99s+Childhood+Home/@30.3511488,-88.5576447,3a,77.7y/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipPVdLinVnJbii9TeCstRQnh3-wH4LuXhRBX0ZuV!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipPVdLinVnJbii9TeCstRQnh3-wH4LuXhRBX0ZuV%3Dw203-h152-k-no!7i1024!8i768!4m18!1m8!3m7!1s0x889be8cb99d742ef:0xccc683cad411efb3!2sPascagoula,+MS!3b1!8m2!3d30.3657552!4d-88.5561272!16zL20vMHhnank!3m8!1s0x889befff02b47f47:0xb89b01d7a69d95f2!8m2!3d30.3511573!4d-88.5576613!10e5!14m1!1BCgIgAQ!16s%2Fg%2F11j4mtw56g?entry=ttu
This explains his song title, Son of a Son of a Sailor. We and jimmy, like our host, SD, grew up on the water, swimming, fishing and especially sailing in our several cat sailboats, sloops and wooden skiff moored on my grandfather’s front yard docks.
It was an idealistic childhood and we enjoyed every minute of it. Jimmy’s song, Life is Just a Tire Swing was about the 2″ rope tire swing on one of the giant oaks in my grand father’s water front yard. We had a ball, with several tree houses in the oaks.
Like all good artists, Jimmy wrote about his life’s experiences. His best (IMHO) and one my first wife loved is his song, Come Monday, which has the same theme as Lionel Richie/Alabama’s “Deep River Women” (“Lord I am coming Home to You!”) that reveals the loneliness of performing on the road and missing your loved ones so, just like In the Early Morning Rain, written by another beloved troubadour that we have recently lost, Gordon Lightfoot.
Jimmy was four years my senior, and he and my 2 older brothers would play mean tricks on this ‘younger kid brother’. Before leaving to go play in Dr. Mcllwain’s woods just behind Captain Grant’s house on Grant Street, these tricksters would tell me to run to the garage in our back yard to get something and when I returned, they had run off without me,… but I always found them later climing trees and playi ng in the woods,… lots to do there then for young boys up to mischief.
Once, we caught a baby alligator gar in the lake and put it in a big metal wash tub in the lot behind Jimmy’s house. Jimmy and my brothers would charge kids in the neighborhood a nickle to look at and pet the fish,… no fooling.
Jimmy went to U of Southern Miss with my older brothers , but dropped out to open his guitar case on the corner of Bourbon and Saint Louis streets in the French Quarter where tourists would donate to his diner after hearing him play in public, solo. Then he moved on up to Nashville, became friends with Willie and Waylon and like them, he left Nashville for FL when they went to Luckenbach, TX because they were tired of being told what to write and play by the industry execs.
The rest is History,…. thanks Nashville execs.
To me, his best impression that captures his spirit was the photo on his album cover where he wares a White Sport Coat and his holding up a Pink Crustation (cooked lobster) on the beech, a spoof on Pat Boone’s A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation love song,…. that was totally Jimmy Buffet. He luved entertaining.
RIP, my old Musical childhood friend from so many years ago,… you with your talent and happy spirits have given the world great joy and happiness. It’ll always be 5 O’clock Somewhere,… so keep it between the beacons and buoys, Jimmy.
Thanks for sharing your memories with us.
“The pirates don’t plunder and the cannons don’t thunder”
A Pirate Turns 40!
Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude,… says it all out Jimmy.
In our home town where Jimmy grew up, we were all Ultra Conservatives,… but not Red Neck, due to the Europeans that setteled New Orleans, Moble and the Gulf Coast.
I think Jimmy became disillusioned and very turned off to the over burden of the Nashville Music Capitalist execs on artists like himself. That may explain his turn to Leftist politics.
Ick, didn’t know he had leftist attitudes
Oh well, can’t be perfect but…
Dang
Willie does too, very much, I think sometimes having so much money you don’t see the reality of other people holding themselves back.
The left would t hold themselves back from him if he came out say amd said trans shouldn’t be in women’s sports
They would try to destroy hom
I dismiss old liberals by understanding that they can afford to be Liberal.
Once an artist encourages us to support his or her favorite leftist candidate, that artist loses me.
Buffet lost me back in the days of Bubba and Beelzebub.
Absolutely, the guy was a big supporter of that crack head Gillum. Florida dodged the bullet in 2016 or we would have been locked down like all the other blue states. My sentiment with my youth went out the window these last 5yrs , still very angry with these libtards. I do not wish harm on anyone but I will not shed tears for them either.
I may head over to 4chan
what a lovely reminiscence. thank you for sharing it.
TY, like SD, it was my pleasure to reval some of the true side of Jimmy Buffet, as I knew him.
As a young boy, Jimmy was a great friend to play with. I always regretted his father moving to Mobile.
But he remain good friends with us for the rest of his life,… one that is sadly now ended. He has left this world so much to enjoy! Thanks, Jimmy, you are truly missed.
Interesting read Mr.DaPicayune. May Jimmy be on his favorite sloop sailing effortlessly.
Thanks.
Thank you for sharing. Jimmy has always been a favorite. Brings me back to my college days at EIU.
Thank you for your memories
Thank you for that. His music was the anthem for an era and an entire generation of (mainly)Southerners.
Very nostalgic morning here at the lake.
Smooth sailing, Jimmy. RIP
As an Auburn grad I had always heard he spent a little time enrolled on the Plains. He was a good one for sure.
JB would have loved this DaPicayune.
Perhaps, I sure hope.
The best that I should say is that Jimmy Buffet at heart was a kind, happy-go-lucky soul that obviously loved entertaining and spreading his brand of happiness.
Yet, the more important aspect of JB that needs to be said now, is that although he had a tough time in his early years, is the fact that unlike most,… Jimmy Buffet chose to live his life as he saw best and pursued a course that was not easy nor rewardfing early on, but he persisted,…. and look what he achieved by being true to himself and his nature,… regardless of what others may think now.
No, I am not advocating that we all go Hippy and become Beach Bums,… just that when your soul has talent and a purpose,… find it, like Jimmy did, overcome the early obstacles, persist and purse your destiny.
Jimmy achieved that, and we should honor that in him now,… for in the end, only He can determine if his was a life well lived and spent,… not causal observers now.
This is not meant as a defense, but more so as a reveal of the boy and man that I and my family knew and liked.
William Makepeace Thackeray’s ending words of his novel, (The Luck of) Barry Lyndon are some that I have always remembered since my English major at Tulane over five decades ago, when a person of fame dies:
“It was in the reign of George II that the above-named personages lived and quarreled ; good or bad, handsome or ugly, rich or poor, they are all equal now.”
I know Jimmy would now approve of Thackeray,….with his famous, infectious grin or smile.
In the early 70s, I was a college student and drove many times between New Orleans and Mobile. We always planned our trip so as not to reach Pascagoula when the Ingalls workers were knocking off for the day.
At that time, the I10 hadn’t been completed across that marsh right outside of Pascagoula due to the existence a fish threatened with extinction. Was it the snail darter? We’d have to get off the Interstate and take Hwy. 90 around the marsh until the feds finally approved the completion of the I10. Did the snail darter survive?
Whenever I think of that drive, I think of all of us in the car taking that detour and singing along with Janis Joplin to “Bobby McGee”. And keeping an eye out for aliens interested in abduction. LOL
Thanks for the memories, DaPicayune.
I was also a student at Tulane then, except for when I would stop and work as a rigger (crane assistant) at Ingalls to make more tuition $,… so yeah, I had that same detour through my home town of Gautier and then Pascagoula, MS on Hwy 90.
Yeah, about 20K Ingalls shipyard workers hitting the road home at 3:30 PM made quite the traffic hassel,… it looked like NASCAR on Hwy 90 and I-10 to the East to AL and West.
Ingalls was the biggest employer in the state then building modern, all aluminum USN Spurance Class Destroyers and troop carriers. The wages were Great. Ingalls later bought Avondale Shipyard in NOLA.
It wasn’t an endangered fish that stopped the completion of the I-10 super slab thru Gautier,.. it was the Sand Hill Crane preserve,… they were considered endangered and protected then and their preserve was adjacent to I-10 on the North side for a couple of miles.
My MS State Senator Grandfather was partly responsible for it’s creation along with the Gulf Shores Nature Preserves of Horn and Petit Bois Islands ten miles South of Gautier and Pascagoula in the Gulf,… very beautiful places with the world’s most white “Barking Sands’ that will Never see a Condo or Hotel built on them.
Some thought I-10 might disturb their habitat. Decades of traffic later proves the Envirofascists were very wrong,.. these big 4′ high beautiful birds are thriving now in their Northern Gautier protected preserve. They even have a Preserve Center there for Tourist to see them.
A brother of mine lives just North of it in Gautier and has American Bald Eagles that live next to the Singing River fly over his home as well as huge flocks of Canadian Geese that live next door on a lake.
It’s a beautiful little town on the Gulf Coast with lots of natural beauty, resources and great fishing,…. but then I am biased,… it’s Home.
New Orleanians who motored east on I-10 to Destin, FL and the Red Neck Rivera in Gulf Shores, AL were cussing made at the Tree Huggers for holding up the competition of I-10 and causing the detour to Hwy 90.
In fact, I recall one wag who sent a Letter to the Editor of the Times Picayune in about 1974 promoting his solution to the I-10 development delay by posting his receipt for Sand Hill Crane Soup!
SP correction: Recipe for Sand Hill Crane Soup.
(bad eyes here, Jimmy was right, old age ain’t all fun. After several eye operations over the last ten years, I am improving thanks to Outstanding docs/meds, have gone from 200/20 which is legally blind to 40/20,… Thank the Lord)
Very interesting. Kudos to the cranes for surviving and to your grandfather for preserving some beaches from the real estate developers. At that time, in Louisiana, our pelicans were disappearing. When DDT was outlawed they made a big come back. Now you can see them every day on Lake Pontchartrain.
I see them daily while crossing the I-10 Twin Span or the Causeway over the lake,.. we live in Slidell now! Also beautiful birds while in flight.
Those offshore Gulf Islands National Seashore (Horn and Petit Bois Islands) are very unique and beautiful,… Sundance would luv’em. Jimmy Buffet and my family sure did,… and still do.
Round Island Lighthouse, near by.
http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/images/horn1c.gif
Old Horn Island Light House.
Fresh water lake on Horn Island. When I was a kid, wild cattle were still on the island,… big gators and rabbits own it now.
RIP Jimmy Buffett, you were a great entertainer and left behind so much good music for all to enjoy. Time to find my four CD set and play some of your songs…
The man had a great voice. RIP
I heard this on my satellite radio news feed this early 3am and was saddened by the news. I went to college in Mobile Ala, during 1971 -72 Jimmy Buffet would come to the Student Union building during the week and charge $1 with Student ID and play all of his original music, take breaks out on the balcony with friends he went to school with at BC Raines. Then he left to live in Nashville to make his fortune and almost starved to death, as no one would give him a break or play his music or record his songs. So he came home, then left for the sun to tour the beach bars and lounges on the West and East coast of Florida and made musical history. One of my fraternity brothers (now deceased) used to jam with him in HS on the harmonica, always said he would be a tremendous success, and he was right. I smile and turn up the volume every time I hear anything of his on the radio. Fair winds and smooth seas on this your next journey, JB, your millions of listeners will always have you in their heart.
I miss Charlie Watts and Tom Petty. Jimmy was just fun.
Amazing insight and story.
Made me smile today.
Thank you.
I was fortunate enough to meet him when he was playing in Myrtle Beach, SC. I worked at a record store, and the owner was a friend of Jimmy’s. Very kind man.
One cannot say, “a very kind man” about most people who eventually make money. He never forgot where he came from.
I 2nd that motion and can attest to it’s truth.
Nevertheless, the shine on the memories will always be a bit tarnished: https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/414726-jimmy-buffett-takes-musical-shots-at-trump-during-concert/
Both Jimmy Buffet and Donald Trump kept their airplanes at the same facility at Palm Beach Airport. Jimmy lived in Jupiter not far from Trump’s golf club. I would bet they were friends!
Think again. 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 don’t think so
Agreed. And Elton John played at Rush Limbaugh’s wedding party (fact).
I guess we need to cut some political slack for pop stars – their entire industry is populated with woke maroons, and if an artist wants the best studio and board talent, not to mention big-label distribution, he or she has to play along a bit.
You must be joking.
Both are American originals. For all his business acumen & talent, JB didn’t seem to have much common sense when it came to politics. And Buffett was a brilliant businessman.
Jimmy’s mother was an assist to his Biz acumen.
God that disgusting
So what???
Thank you, Sundance. Wonderful tribute.
Being from the St. Johns area, I grew up with Buffett; brings back melancholy memories and good times. He’s been with me most of my life; in song.
Wonderful memories of Bud N Mary’s Marina, Holiday Isle, The Coral Grill, Herbie’s in Marathon, The Bull and Hog’s Breath Key West. Deep sea fishing on How’ Bout it and Jimmy Buffet during all my many years in Margaritaville!
This one really did hurt!
It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere https://g.co/kgs/ngTWWK
Been playing his music all day. Rest in peace Jimmy, you were a very bright and hopeful light in this world and you will be missed dearly. Godspeed Jimmy.
I go for younger women
Lived with several a while
Though I ran ’em away
They come back one day, and still can manage a smile
Just takes a while…just takes a while.
Story of my life…….
Just takes a while … we all need to be that philosophical when dealing with cute young women … *sigh* … those days are well behind me.
Him and his good buddy Dan Fogelberg are singing a duet in Heaven for Our Lord
“My head hurts, my feet stink, and I don’t love jesus” – Jimmy Buffet
He was probably just being clever and sarcastic with those lyrics. But Buffet was no friend of the Lord Jesus Christ, His church, or the values revealed by God in the Bible.
His music was fun. That’s about it.
Too bad. Way to insult the dearly departed. God knows Jimmy Buffett. You don’t.
Thankyou
Yep. Some here don’t want to hear the truth just like Democrats do to us.
Great tribute!
RIP jimmy. thanks for the music.
Sorry for your loss, Sundance.
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes was my favorite buffet tune. Maybe because I was living in Florida at the time it was playing on the radio.
Early this year, I saw Jimmy Buffett in concert for the first time ever. It was a very poignant and memorable evening with my husband and our daughter.
I’m so sorry that he won’t be sharing his special stories and his colorful music onstage anymore. His was a life well-lived, and filled with adventures.
This billionaire icon was married to his second wife for some forty six years. He loved visiting with his old friends in the backwater, as well as visiting his old fishing holes.
I admire these qualities in a man. I admire them a lot. Rest in peace, old salt.
Thanks for inviting us in.
…’pore me something tall and strong…’
I remember going to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville with friends because we were all Buffet fans.
RIP, Jimmy.
My friend, I am sorry for your loss and sadness. Thank you for the tribute.
I too enjoyed Jimmy’s music.
In 2021, I was saddened to see that Jimmy strongly supported The Jab.
I have to wonder was his aggressive cancer caused by The Jab?
So many people fell victim to this massive Psych-Op perpetuated by our “government” and “medical experts”
I am sad for all the lives lost to The Jab.
Sundance, thanks so much for sharing that bit of yourself with us. Like you, I grew up in, around, and on the water – the difference being that my family was in the party boat business and I was running a converted 65′ air-sea-rescue boat on NY/NJ waters. I started by swabbing decks and cleaning up (and fishing) at the age of 5, and began running them (with uncle back-up) at the age of 13. “A Pirate Looks at 40” resonates with me too – and, I might add, Jimmy is also wearing my shoes in that video. He will be sorely missed. He joyously lived life his way, and brought us all along for the ride. Hard to believe he’s gone. Fair winds and following seas, Jimmy.
I have a pair of shoes *just like that* (only smaller) :):):) RIP
I used to hang out with blind keyboard player Jay Spell when he lived in L.A. From Buffett News on January 9, 2011 when he passed: Spell appears on the popular 1978 Buffett album “Son of a Son of a Sailor” and he can be seen playing in Buffett’s band in the movie “FM“. He was also standing behind the keyboards when that fun-loving troubadour performed on “Saturday Night Live“. That’s what this reminds me of the most and he had been working on a friend’s album. Jimmy Buffett seems like he was a very positive, upbeat kind of guy. R.I.P.
I just remember that he was on MCA RECORDS where I worked for 15 years so because he was on the label, we got free tickets to a show at the Amphitheatre. I had never been to a concert where people were passing joints around (ALL around) before and Security was completely ignoring it!
Wow! Brush with greatness! I saw at least one concert with Jay. I was always impressed. What did you do with/for him?
We were friends. Since I was also a working musician, he ended up having to borrow my Fender-Rhodes (electric piano) at one point. He shared a small apartment with another musician/songwriter who’d had a big hit on the charts at a very young age and it was at the top of a VERY long and VERY steep stone staircase which I was afraid to climb, so Jay took my hand and led ME up there a few times! Another time I was leading him into a Safeway but accidentally banged him into a metal post in the parking lot. Boy, did I feel like an idiot! He’d been playing on a friend’s album and so I tried to let him know when she passed–black country singer Eddie Marie Kurgan known as “The Black Swan”–only to find out that HE was gone as well 🙁
Played on his wonderful live album You Had To Be There also.
Yeah, he’s listed here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Had_to_Be_There#Personnel
Wow. I met Jimmy in a bar called the Whitehouse Inn in Biloxi in a Sunday morning. 1977 or 78. I was drinking a gin&tonic having just returned from two weeks as a deckhand. He walked in, sat next to me, ordered the same and then small talk. He went to the piano, played a song and left. I never forgot. Yes, I am a pirate.
Probably my FAVORITE Buffet tune … speaking of Biloxi
I went to 2-3 concerts. Everyone sang every word to every song it seemed.
I love the song, “A Pirate Looks at Forty”.
I read his book with the same title. There is a small chapter in the book where he described his time living in Nashville TN where he was told to go to get a foothold in the “industry”.
His response to weather in Nashville echoed my sentiments but he was better able to express WHY the weather is so horrible there: The cold weather from the Canada collides with the warm weather from the Gulf of Mexico right over middle TN causing it to be getting ready to rain, raining, getting ready to snow, snowing, and a few spots of hot and humid.
I had lived in Chicagoland and Reno NV and never saw such horrible weather.
In his book he talks about leaving TN to move to the FL Keys. When he left it was horrible, miserable weather and by the time he made it to the Keys it was 50 to 60 degrees warmer and paradise.
I felt a great kinship with him as I left TN and moved to hot and dry Las Vegas.
My brother loved Lynard Skinner and one day when I came home from school, he was sitting on the floor leaning against our big Zenith stereo and informed me he was all bummed out because the lead singer was killed in a plane crash that day. In my snottiest teen aged sister mode, I replied “who cares”.
Flash forward to about 2014 and I was on a business trip to Alabama. I had about 3 hrs to drive yet and the radio played “Sweet Home Alabama”. I immediately thought of my horrible response to my brother. Amazingly, he called me that very moment to say hi.
I took the opportunity to apologize for being a less than adequate sister. He died a couple years later. I will never forget that moment. Some moments happen for a reason.
I hope I am not deviating from the subject, but I was thinking along the lines of great artists that play a role in our lives.
RIP Jimmy
Bless you for caring that much to hold a memory of a thoughtless moment. It takes a really tender heart to care that much.
I remember where I was, what I was doing and who I was with when I heard of the Skynyrd crash. Not off topic at all, a loss of youth and innocence.
A lot of people on this comment section could learn from the lesson that you learned.
Not to be an ass, but, Leonard Skinner was the boys phys. ed. teacher they copied and took the name Lynyrd Skynyrd.
No, no, you’re NOT “deviating” at all. This is a wonderful story about “serendipity” as well which more people need to take notice of in their lives because it’s IMPORTANT! Very poignant story. I did something similar with my parents but never got the chance to apologize that you got. Makes me cry just thinking about it.
The man cannot tell the truth with a gun to his head.
RIP Jimmy Buffett, even if your politics drifted to the left. Born in MS, lived in AL then FL. Gulf Coast then Keys man, wasting away in margaritaville, looking for his lost shaker of salt; some people claimed that a woman’s to blame, but it’s my own damn fault.
One can be the light, or one can reflect the light; Jimmy Buffett was a Lighthouse who did both. I’m so sorry for the loss of one of your Dearest Favorites. I’m always sad when a great body of work is complete. Lighthouses are enduring. We shall always remember.
Sundance, was the Fresnel lens still there in the lighthouse when you were a boy? (I met someone who restores & preserves/displays them worldwide… amazing invention)
“… First lit on August 20, 1884, the 98-foot tall iron skeleton tower closely resembles the current Cape San Blas lighthouse (linked) tower. Both towers have a central spiral staircase beginning about 10 feet above the ground.
The lighthouse showed a light from a 3rd order lens that was made in Paris in 1884. The lens used was originally intended for Anclote Keys (linked) but was used instead at Sanibel. The lens rotated on steel ball bearings and showed a fixed white light varied by a flash of brighter light every two minutes. The clockworks that powered its rotation had a 120-pound weight that needed to be rewound every 12 hours, but was usually rewound every four hours. two identical white keeper’s dwellings, a storage house, an oil house and a wharf completed the station. The lower part of the tower was painted metallic brown, the lantern black. Almost 670 acres were reserved for lighthouse purposes on the nearly uninhabited island to provide the keepers with pasture and farming lands.…”
{https://web.archive.org/web/20060205005954/http://users.erols.com/lthouse/sihs.htm } ((includes a 1013 photo, but not close enough to see the Fresnel lens – only it’s substantial silhouette in the center of the lantern room))
“… Consisting of four iron legs arranged in a pyramidal fashion around a cylindrical central column topped by a lantern room, the lighthouse was ready to be lit by keeper Dudley Richardson on August 20, 1884. A third-order Fresnel lens ((example below)) graced the tower at a height of about ninety-eight feet and produced a fixed white light, punctuated every two minutes by a brilliant flash. Just like its twin at Cape San Blas (linked), the central column of Sanibel Island Lighthouse stops about twenty feet from the ground and must be accessed by an external staircase.
}
…
In 1923, the dwellings were modernized, receiving indoor plumbing and bathrooms, and enclosed porches. That same year, the light was converted from kerosene to acetylene gas.
…
The Coast Guard electrified Sanibel Island Lighthouse in 1962 when the causeway was completed and electric conduit pipes were run along it for the island. In the process of electrifying the light, the Coast Guard removed the tower’s third-order Fresnel lens …
{
((I’d love to know – was the original 3rd order Fresnel lens just trashed, or is it on display somewhere? couldn’t find a ref. for that if so; the 4th order drum that replaced it for a short time seems to be listed as ‘on display’ in a museum here: https://uslhs dot org/history/fresnel-lenses/classical-fresnel-lenses/fresnel-lenses-all-list ))
{ https://web.archive.org/web/20101229143538/http://sanibel-captiva.org/islands/Lighthouse.asp }
This photo from another site – details about Fresnel lens technology… French, mid 1822 invention Of Augustine Jean Fresnel (1788-1827) revolutionized shipping safety; they are really something!
a 3rd order Fresnel lens is 1.576 m in height
1E2A5.jpg
the 1820s technology explained…
http://www. terrypepper dot com/lights/closeups/illumination/fresnel/fresnel.htm
THIS is the photo I really want you to see… of a 3rd order Fresnel lens probably the original type (there are several types
French, mid 1822 invention Of Augustine Jean Fresnel (1788-1827) revolutionized shipping safety; they are really something!
a 3rd order Fresnel lens is 1.576 m in height
{ 1E2A5.jpg }
A modern reproduction 8 Bullseye installed in Tx last year (above is a single Bullseye) – a little video interview with the installer (not the gentleman I met)
{ Installation of a 3rd Order Fresnel Lens – Port Isabel Lighthouse }
Here are some more excellent photos of this fascinating art-technology
{ https://www.artworks-florida.com/gallery }
If you haven’t read JB’s book “A Salty Piece of Land” you are in for a light house treat!
I read it.
I have not… so on your recommendation alone, I will seek it out. Thank You Mycroft (you had me at ‘lighthouse’ 😉
In Thanks, a photo of the largest Fresnel lighthouse lens that exists in the physical – one order larger exists on paper yet has never been built; this order is Hyperradiant (originally), now called Hyper-radial… and this one at Makapuu Point, Oahu, HI (built in 1887/activated 1909) is one of a very few examples left working worldwide, out of a small number ever built; it’s the only one ever acquired by the US.
Fresnel never saw most iterations of his technology come to fruition (he personally designed 7orders to meet various location requirements), as he died ~58 years before the prototype of this largest order was ever built (1885). A good analogy would be that the first Fresnel lens was to lighthouses, at the time, the jaw-dropping-improvement that the Webb Telescope is to our basic telescope tech now – a 7m/23′ high, very big deal.
This includes a photo (not dated) of the Hyperradiant Fresnel in Oahu from around the time of – either still in Paris, or on display at the Chicago World’s Fair, 1893; prior to shipment for – installation (scroll down); also a chart of where all 33 ever built are now… (a more readable chart exists on wikiP [Hyperradiant Fresnel Lens], but not as much historic/detail information or as many photos are there; besides, it’s wikiP 😛 )
https://uslhs.org/hyper-radial-lenses
no photos, WTH GBWR…?!?
{ https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/717866-largest-lighthouse-lenses }
I know.. TMI. but…
Paris is known as “The City of Lights” which gave us Lady Liberty (albeit a controversial symbology/history);
America is known as “The Beacon on the Hill” for our Love of Unalienable Rights, Freedom, & Liberty…
Fresnel lenses give me that visceral feeling & stunning visual of “Beacon”…
so it would seem…
We are becoming the Hyperradiant Beacon of Freedom of the future… or very possibly – and this has never been done before either…
The Meso-radiant Beacon of the World
(q: does the term MAGA-radiant seem to hold any promise? it does for me, but unless you’ve read all this to know what it means… huh??? LMK)
Stepped on one last pop top. RIP Jimmy
My recent chain link was to the original The Pretenders, whom I saw back in the day at a small venue in Austin. I have the singular privilege of having been in the crowd when Christie Hynde flipped everyone off screaming “Eff off!!” because so many people were taking flash photos that had been banned. I heard “The Wait” for the first time in a long time the other day and I can’t stop listening to them because it brought back such memories. And Ms. Hynde still has a place in my heart, despite our political views diverging, because she honored her father by letting Rush Limbaugh use “My City Was Gone” as his bumper music. Truth to tell though, her lyrics tell the tale of the deplorable.
Margaritaville has a special meaning to me.
In 1976 my dad opened a car wash. I was 12. Youngest of 7. My next oldest brother, 14, and I were friENEMIES up to that point. We were working together at the car wash and this song came on the sound system. We sang it together. And laughed and joked together the rest of that day. Every time I hear that song since I’m 12, working at the car wash, enjoying my time with my brother. EVERY. TIME.
I have to confess that I was a real fan of Buffet’s early work. But then … I went to a concert with a friend of ours … and the place was filled with drunk “Parrot Head” frat boys. I was DONE … I was never a Parrot Head, and I never ate at Cheeseburger in Paradise … well except in Lahaina … when I got dragged into the bar by my wife’s cousins. Liked him when he started … not so much at the end.
I have the same relationship with multiple performers … Elton John for example … first 5-6 lp’s … and then I was DONE.
Thank you for entering this Memorial Service being held by Sundance and trashing the dearly departed.
Liked his music once upon a time but he was a die hard liberal to the end …
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/its-vax-o-clock-somewhere-jimmy-buffett-welcomes-fans-to-blossom-if-theyre-vaccinated-or-tested
I was fortunate to enjoy a cheeseburger at his cafe in St Barths (French West Indies) in 1988.
I was told that he didn’t frequent the establishment like he had during the early 80s.
Didn’t matter, that was truly a royalé with cheese
I first saw him on February 23, 1973 at FSU Student Union, before he became famous. It was my first date. I had a terrible crush on her. I liked him; she didn,t . I was a nervous wreck that night. Needless to say, the date did not go well. I didn’t blame the woman-nor Jimmy.
Jimmy sang a song about stealing things from a mini-mart that night. That’s all I can remember.
I was vindicated when “Come Monday” came out a year and half later.
I never saw him in concert again but I loved his music.
Nice memory. I had a similar date when I took a real cutie to see John Denver at his peak of popularity … in about 1974. She didn’t like him at all. On the way home she told me that she liked music like Terry Jack’s “Seasons in the Sun” … OMG 🤦♂️ talk about music incompatibility… sheesh. But we still had something of an on-again, off-again relationship … but oh my … she was the BEST kisser … ever … in my life.
He brought joy to peoples hearts amd his own
500 million amd all reports are he was who you see
What a life, super millionaire beach bum
Is everyone here aware that Buffett campaigned for Andrew Gillum in Florida’s last gubernatorial election? He got on stage and sang songs mocking Trump and Trump voters. I don’t know, this one’s easy for me because I always disliked his music, but he was no regular good ol’ boy from Mississippi.
Sometimes you have to separate the music from the musician. I’m a huge Springsteen fan although I am politically way on the other side. I managed to just enjoy the music and interpret the meaning as it applied to my life.
Although I will admit seeing him on that yacht with the Obamas was almost more than I could stomach.
“My head hurts, my feet stink, and I don’t love jesus” – Jimmy Buffet
Stop it. Just stop it. Very rude of you to trash him. Sundance wrote a very beautiful eulogy to him and here you are being rude.
Not trashing him, its a lyric in one of his songs.
I am aware Mac. I am also aware that Jimmy Buffet despised President Trump and supported Hilldog Clintoon in 2016 . https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/08/31/buffett-bon-jovi-and-mccartney-join-clinton-for-star-studded-fundraiser/
Jimmy Buffet was a Covid vaccine pusher and REQUIRED “proof” ( can anyone say vaccine passport) of taking the China Virus “vaccine poison” in order to attend his concerts. Here’s one many receipts. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/08/16/jimmy-buffett-perform-dte-energy-music-theatre-sept-23/8148398002/
I will say each to their own to those who liked his music and some posters here who personally knew the man. That’s fine, and I am good with it. I happen to like A Pirate Looks at 40 and Margaritaville.
Nonetheless, I cannot in good conscience put Jimmy Buffet on some kind of pedestal and act like I am devastated by his passing. Everyone else can do so if they so desire. If that make me unpopular, so be it.
To me it would be hypocritical as Buffet was one of the same type of CULTural Marxist, WEF type elite,supporters, that hate us MAGA supporters that we talk about everyday. I see no difference than what I see in Hollyweird virtue signaling, Trump haters and haters of Trump supporters. But that’s just me.
Buffet’s net worth at his passing is estimated to be 1 billion dollars according to Forbes https://www.forbes.com/profile/jimmy-buffett/?sh=8466010d9468. It seems most of the time, this changes their outlook on everyday people. I just don’t know why.
I do not begrudge his fame nor his wealth. He earned it. What I do begrudge is he earned most of that wealth from working people who identified with him, bought his music, attended his concerts and a country that allowed him the luxury to invest it wisely to become a billionaire. Then, when he becomes a member of the Democrat elite club, spews his disdain and puts down those very people because they were/are Trump supporters. How is this any different than what Meatball, the RINO’s we detest, Fux Snews, etc. etc. etc. did or are doing? 🤔
I know this post won’t be popular today. However, when someone rich and famous joins the likes of Hilldog Clintoon and openly supports the CULTural Marxist agenda I can’t take it. Just because they have made it, have no money or everyday life worries, why can’t they just do what they do best , STFU and stop the virtue signaling for the elites?
My point is whether “stars” like Buffet, realize it or not, they are actually supporting the people and policies that are against the betterment of the country that allowed him to make it and therefore, by proxy, against any chance of any of us making it like like he did.
Sorry….not sorry….but at the end of time the truth will always stand. And regardless of the good memories that Jimmy Buffet produced by his music and talent, the bitter truth happens to be Buffet was the exact type we talk about everyday. A never Trumper, a MAGA hater and a supporter of elites that wish to destroy this country as we know it. His passing or playing his music all day will not change that fact.
I hesitate to post this because I hate to be a downer on a day of old, but good memories for many. However, in conclusion, I was compelled by conviction to say the truth that Jimmy Buffet, was an elite leftist, just like many other elite leftist that we have encountered in the past and present. Upon finding out about their actions (think Arnold, Vannity, Meatball, JEB!, etc) many have posted in the past that they have thrown out their CD’s, DVD’s or will never watch or support them again. The past years music may have been great to many, but to the present day MAGA America First movement, the man….not so much.
1,000 down votes. Rude, rude, rude.
OK that’s fine with me. However, let me remind you what has been said on these pages in the past that “We will never forget the Covid tyrants and their supporters” for what they did to this country.
I guess it was forgotten. I’ll accept the 1000 down votes gladly.
Hope he finds that lost shaker of salt. Inspired in me an attitude of insouciance.
We’re wanted men, we’ll strike again but first let’s have a beer
He fundraised for Obama and sang at events to elect Obama in 2008 and 2012 .
But hey, his songs were much loved.
If I had to hate every artist who was a hardcore leftist … I guess all I would have is Christian music … and probably only HALF of that. Sorry … I just can’t.
Excellent point …
As I said to my wife and kids upon learning of Buffett’s passing, he can finally have his cheeseburger in paradise now.
Or not…let’s not confuse musical talent with a repentant heart! Just sayin’
No evidence that would lead to thinking he’s in paradise. Still, one can only hope he was a saved man despite his blasphemous views and immoral life.
YOU DON’T KNOW HIS HEART. You don’t know if he gave his heart to Christ in his final months. Just because he didn’t write a song about it does not mean that he did not repent.
And I stated in a longer post in this thread, I certainly hope that he did turn to Christ at the end of his life! I have many great memories that are wrapped up in several of his songs and I bear him NO ILL WILL! However, the idea that someone would be in “Paradise” simply because he wrote great music is not borne out by anything in Scriptures. That was the only point that I was making…I never claimed to know his heart so please don’t jump down my throat!
There is a actually a place not far from where I stay on the coast. It is the location of the “burger” and the small bar. To be there you understand. It was a “burger” in Paradise. And yes it is a good very good burger served there. It is in bama in a cove. Last Time I was there it was decently crowded with lots of youth in very small bathing suits and having a lot of fun drinking and partying.
Jimmy used to go there and that is where and how it came about. The location is a sort of Paradise, hidden away. And it serves a very decent burger
Nah Jimmy had it at Cabbage Key just south of Boca Grande Pass
Beautiful. Thank you.
Reminds me of Chris Christie Cream crying when he met Springsteen.
And, I will not respond to angry sycophants.
I will always remember when my youngest son heard the song “Cheeseburger in Paradise” for the first time … it came up when the family was playing Rock Band … he fell on the floor laughing that any song was ever recorded with that title and subject. He couldn’t stop laughing and said that was the dumbest song he’d ever heard. I had to tell him that when Jimmy started his career he was a true artist … but he still recorded an occasional “novelty song” … like “Door Number 3”.
Oh Monty … Monty … Monty
I am crawling down your Hall …
I’ll take Alice Cooper.
Yup, Alice is willing to be canceled, not addicted to sniffing the keisters of our destroyers.
Live your best life without throwing cash at those who throw our cash toward our destruction.
He definitely was a distinct part of the American saga and music. The pictures he painted with his songs and the life style he built were iconic American beach life. You just described it SD. Thanks and Godspeed Jimmy.
Saw him at the old Austin Opre House in 1973. On stage, no band. Several weeks after Come Monday came out. The words he wrote tell of life, the good, the bad, the funny, the old. Looking to run into some chums with a bottle of rum………we will drink to the Pirate. RIP Jimmy.
He will be missed. I grew up with his songs.
RIP sweet soul.
Love his footwear.
I’m triggered to 30+ years ago when I went to Hawaii. I was taking the helicopter ride over Kauai looking at the innumerable waterfalls. with a headset on listening to Jimmy Buffet.
I never think of Hawaii without thinking of Jimmy Buffet.
I grew up in Florida. He was special. He’ll be missed.
Took the chopper ride in Kauai.
No music on my headphones… but Apocalypse Now’s The Ride of The Valkyries, kept running through my head. Specially when you come up from the NW side inland to the falls.
Not much history, from my side, on Jimmy Buffet.. I guess an East Coast kind of guy… but I can see he was pretty mellow.
Margaritaville was always such a sad song when you really listened to it.
Wasted away again in Margaritaville
Searchin’ for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame
But I know, it’s my own damn fault
Yes, and some people claim that there’s a woman to blame
And I know it’s my own damn fault
Sad to see him go.