One Particular Harbor

 

I have been listening to a lot of Jimmy Buffett music the last two weeks.  I hope you have too!  The first time I saw him perform live was 1979 in Austin and it cost me $7.50; I have the ticket stub.  His whimsical tunes and laid-back lifestyle were something that I fell in love with.  Eventually I saw Jimmy in person at least 29 times.  Yes, I became somewhat of a Parrot head.  Even though I have been an avid concert goer for years, not one single performer comes close to that total.  My kids were raised on his music, and it has been played at parties and celebrations in my home for years. 

 

Here are just a few of my favorite lyrics and song titles…

·        The weather is here I wish you were beautiful.

·        I wish lunch could last forever.

·        If the phone doesn’t ring it’s me.

·        Quietly making noise.

·        A permanent reminder of a temporary feeling.

·        I heard I was in town.

·        We are the people our parents warned us about.

·        I made enough money to buy Miami, but I pissed it away so fast.

·        There’s a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

·        I’d rather die while I’m living, than live while I am dead.

 

“It’s important to have as much fun as possible while we’re here.  It balances out the times when the minefields of life explode.”

-          Jimmy Buffet 06-21-22 via Twitter (X)

 

This social media post expands on the final bullet point above.  It is worth noting that he was in a minefield explosion when he posted this, as he had already been diagnosed with the cancer that would ultimately take his life.

 

But then there is One Particular Harbor…  This song originally resonated with me due to its sing along nature and intriguing Tahitian lyrics. It was inspired by the view from above Cook’s Bay in Tahiti, but to me the song became analogous to that safe place we all need.  That one particular harbor where we feel safe and protected and can relax.  For some of us that can be a mental place based on our faith or our meditative practices.  For others it is an actual physical place.  It could be your patio in the mornings with coffee.  Perhaps it is a hammock or a bench in a special place. Maybe it is your mountain home or beach house.  It could even be a conversation with that one friend that totally “gets you”.  Or maybe it is a simple evening with close friends.  We all have those comfortable places we like to retreat to, where we are…

 

Sheltered from the wind
Where the children play on the shore each day
And all are safe within

 

Where is your One Particular Harbor?  Have you been there lately?

 

If you thought heaven was awesome before, imagine what it is like now with Jimmy Buffett there!

 

RIP Jimmy Buffett 1946-2023