I just read the sad news about Jimmy Buffet and I’m crying.

The legendary singer, songwriter, and epic author Jimmy Buffet has left the building. I’m no longer going to see him perform in concert.

He’s left planet Earth and rocketed his soul into a new dimension of paradise.

I’m feeling so sad. My mind is whirling with all the ‘times gone by’ with him as the soundtrack of my younger days.

I remember recently feeling shocked when I read the news about Tina Turner moving on. I was like, ‘Wait, what?’ I was at the grocery store when I saw the headlines and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was devasted.

And now, another one. It’s an era gone by, leaving millions of us with heavy hearts who loved and adored these iconic musicians.

I loved Jimmy from the very first song release I heard.

Cheeseburger In Paradise, followed by Margaritaville and the Son of A Son Of A Sailor album. I thought, omg this guy is great and so much fun! I want to live his lifestyle! Music, beaches, sailing, dancing, and crowds of happy people hanging out together.

As I reminisce in my heart, remembering the past several decades with Jimmy singing in the background of my youth, I’m reliving events with all the fun and friends I was with, concert adventures, and countless margaritas!

Being around Jimmy at his concerts and even just listening to his music converted me and millions of others to become ‘parrot heads’ and sing-along fans! His magical rhythms and light-hearted lyrics made me want to dance all the time, and of course, sing right along with him.

It didn’t take long before I knew all the words to his countless songs because they resonated so much with my heart and spirit.

He sang of freedom, and having fun in this life, enjoying every minute of it.

He also belted out some deep ballads that would have me reeling in my own mind, reflecting on what’s most important for living a happy, fulfilled life.

He and his message were remarkably relatable.

Jimmy inspired me to play and live my life with joy, doing what I love and I’m still doing that.

He became an overnight success, creating a huge following of millions of fans, because of his beloved kind, and caring nature, and of course, his talent and friendliness to all.

I celebrated life dancing to his songs and singing out loud with thousands of other humans at his concerts on the beaches of Florida and California.

I remember how approachable Jimmy was during his early days, and I was astonished at how he would charismatically stroll through the crowds on the beach, singing and playing his guitar with a huge grin on his face and a margarita very close by!

Jimmy was kind, fun-loving, musically talented in so many ways and the best part of Jimmy, as far as I’m concerned:

He lived his life sharing his gifts and talents with the world!

Anyone who does this, in my book, is fulfilling their human potential and their greatness! This is something we are all called to do in one way or another and many don’t listen or follow the calling. But Jimmy did!

He expressed his true joy by living a life of passion and following his heart and I felt all of it.

One of his later songs became a lifetime favorite of mine and it seems so apropos in this moment.

It’s called Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes…nothing remains quite the same

Each time I listen to this song, I find myself reflecting on my own life as I tune into the rhythm and lyrics, allowing them to move through my body …” If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane”…

Whirling around in my living room dancing, intermittent tears come from the changes I feel in my own life, to laughter and belly laughs for all the great times I’ve had so far!

As I get older more of my favorite iconic singers and performers that I grew up with are passing from planet Earth and going into the light into a different dimension.

With their passing away, I feel a piece of my heart going with them because of the incredible impact they had on all of my learning in my youth.

The tenderness of life becomes even softer in my heart. And as Jimmy would say in this moment, ‘grab that shaker of salt!’

I am eternally thankful for the gifts all of these beautiful souls shared with me, simply by being themselves and listening to their own music inside.

Thank you Jimmy for being you in this lifetime!

I love you still now and forever.

Always remember, “It’s five o’clock somewhere…”