A Tribute to Jimmy Buffet - Tales From a Mermaid

Like most people, I woke up on Saturday morning, September 2, to learn Jimmy Buffett had passed away. It was the beginning of Labor Day weekend, the last big bash of the summer. I have to admit, it floored me. I felt a piece of my youth had passed away with him. I spent a lot of my college years singing along to Jimmy Buffett, knowing all the words to favorites like Margaritaville, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Come Monday, Fins, Changes in Latitude – Changes in Attitude, and It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere. I wouldn’t classify myself as a Parrothead, but I was lucky enough to see Jimmy Buffett a couple of times – once in Southern California at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, which was an incredible outdoor venue perfect for RV’s blaring island music and blenders mixing up the drink of choice - a margarita of course! I also got to see him last year in our own back yard at the Walmart Amp and experience the Fin Men!

To me, Jimmy Buffett lived a life I dared to live. I didn’t grow up near the ocean, but always loved the water. I moved to California and fell in love with the beach and the palm trees and salt air. I learned to scuba dive and even became an instructor. I visited Key West one summer. It was different, but the same. More laid back, miles from the mainland without a care in the world. I had a margarita in Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. I strolled on the beach with my toes in the sand. I might have even had a cheeseburger. The point is, the beach made me happy and his music was part of that lifestyle.



I counted 6 Jimmy Buffett albums in my collection, including my favorite, “Songs You Know By Heart.” I tuned the radio to the Jimmy Buffett channel just to reminisce and I made myself a strawberry margarita as I sat down to write. I have read that it was fitting that Jimmy Buffett died on Labor Day weekend. Jimmy Buffett was the epitome of an endless summer. I’m always sad when summer is over because it’s my favorite as well. I would rather be sweating out by the pool, scuba diving in the lake, and running around in shorts and flipflops than snuggling under a blanket by the fire any day. But seasons change, and so do we. Summer will be here again soon. Until then, smooth sailing Jimmy Buffett. Thanks for all the fun summer memories.