Spontaneous Sailing, Crying, and Celebrating

"What if we just...did?"

That was the question at hand.

I mean, we shouldn't do it.

It's impulsive. Expensive. Logistically a pain in the ass.?

And, really, why would we do this?

The answer arrived.

A decision was made.

An hour later, we were at the airport.

On a spontaneous, last-second, unplanned trip from our home in San Antonio to Key West to celebrate the life and passing of Jimmy Buffett.

It hurt.

Waking up last Saturday to hear that he had died.

More than I would have thought.?

I mean, I didn't know the guy.

Sure, I loved his music, his vibe, his freewheeling, happy spirit. I loved the countless hours my wife, Angela Lozano , and I had spent singing along, on boats, in the ocean, and in our swimming pool, listening to album after album. Creating memories that now have his music as the soundtrack.

I loved the joy he put into the world, inspiring millions of people to dress up like fools and dance around in parking lots, wearing grass skirts and coconut bras.

I loved the carnival atmosphere at his concerts, where people of all stripes put aside their differences and simply celebrated life with each other for a few hours.

(or a few days if you were tailgating)

So why would we do this?

For every single reason listed above.

It was 3:30 on Saturday.

We were scrolling through tributes on social media and learned that the city of Key West was holding a second line parade in honor of him at 5 o'clock the next day, Sunday.

And we felt an urge to be there. To honor someone whose life and music brought so much joy to our lives. To be with others who felt the same.

But, we can't do that. What about work? Regardless of the cost, we'll barely catch a flight in time. Hell, we'd have to fly into Fort Lauderdale, drive four hours down and we'll be lucky to get there in time to make the second line.

Then, Buffett's beautiful song,?He Went to Paris,?came through?the speakers, and we found ourselves choking back tears.

And Angela said...

"What if we just...did?"

And so we did.

Because these things matter.

Celebrating the life of someone who brought so much joy to so many.

Cherishing these moments as a couple, knowing what they mean to us.

Stepping out of the daily grind to connect with other people.

To dance.

To sing.

To stop and embrace the world.

To cry and laugh at the same time.

To view the sunset in Key West with a smile, a tear, and a toast.

To live.

It was the happiest sad day I've ever been a part of.

What if you just...did?

With love,?

Rick