Midlife, Music and Margaritaville: Celebrating Jimmy Buffett's Legacy - Ep 66

Ever wondered why Jimmy Buffett's tunes feel like a warm embrace? Join us for this episode as we pay tribute to  Jimmy Buffet ... a legend we lost too soon.  We venture into the world of this musical legend, immersing ourselves in his unique blend of  music that resonates deeply with Ellen and Tish and many midlife women. We'll take you through a delightful journey recalling our cherished Margaritaville memories and how Buffett's music has been a source of comfort, companionship, and nostalgia throughout our lives. A captivating tribute to the Margaritaville maestro awaits you, making you feel as if you were sipping your favorite drink on a warm, sunny beach.

Tales from trips to Key West, concerts we attended in our 20s and the vibrant camaraderie of Parrot Heads, the die-hard fans of Jimmy Buffett, will transport you to a different time. We delve into the profound life lessons hidden in Jimmy's music - from embracing the laid-back lifestyle, following your passions, learning to cope with loss, to living life to the fullest. And most importantly, celebrating the joys of life  that Jimmy insipired.

In our heartfelt conversation about Jimmy and his paradise, Margaritaville, we explore the deep impact his music has had on our lives and countless others. So slip into your beach sandals, grab your favorite Margaritaville mocktail or coctail, and let's set sail on a journey of discovery and nostalgia. Stay to the end of the podcast where Tish and Ellen sing a bit of their favorite Jimmy tune....Fins to the Right! 

Obsessions:
Tish: Margaritaville drink mix
Ellen: All The Light We Can Not See - Pulitzer winning novel

Tish and Ellen want to give a BIG thank you to everyone who helped support the show.  And, please support us with a monthly PATREON subscription and get a quarterly live  Q&A with Ellen and Tish.

Transcript

Tish: 0:21

Hey, ellen, this week I thought it would be a great idea if we discussed the recent passing of music legend Jimmy Buffett. You know he was such a beloved musical genius and I think we need to take a moment to just show our respect. You know his music hit this chord with people about embracing that carefree beach culture lifestyle.

Ellen: 0:49

You know we lost a great one this weekend, Tish, and I agree a tribute to him would be great, and we've talked about this in the past how important it is to go see live music, and especially with some of these icons that we may have not seen before, because music is something that really queers everything. So I'm going to say fins to the left.

Tish: 1:15

Fins to the right, and let's get ready to sail away.

Ellen: 1:20

Oh, that just hit my heart. You know he was way too young at 75, and he left a huge musical mark on my life and across many different age groups. But I feel like most of us midlifers have a Jimmy Buffett memory, and later I think we'll both share one or two of the best moments in our lives set to the backdrop of a Jimmy Buffett song.

Tish: 1:48

Yeah, and just talk about. You know just the life lessons we can learn from him. But I want to talk about this simple Catholic boy that grew up in Pasca Luga, mississippi. Am I saying that right. Pasca Luga, I think he said it right. You know, he was born on Christmas Day in 1946. And somehow, some way, he developed this almost cult-like following right With his unique style of music that was a blend of country pop and folk music.

Ellen: 2:26

You know we'll explore some themes in his lyrics that really speak to the challenges, the dreams and the newfound freedom of midlife. Somehow I think they speak of this every stage of life. But I think these really talk to midlife. But before we dive into our tribute to Jimmy Buffett, you know I love our weekly obsessions. What do you got for me this week, fitz?

Tish: 2:50

You know this is kind of a little nod to Jimmy Buffett. You know he's so famous for Margaritaville. And you know I discovered do you ever put little flavor packets in your water bottles?

Ellen: 3:03

You, know, when you came, you got me some of these like little. There were these little bottles and you squeezed them in, so I use them all the time. Lemonade and oh yeah, yeah.

Tish: 3:14

Well, a lot of people use them. Well, they have what they call Margaritaville ones. It's zero sugar, it's like a mocktail Margarita. But what's better, on like a hot day and we've had some hot days just to have a nice lime-based drink that you feel like you're having a Margarita but you don't have to worry about the alcohol. So that is my obsession this week is Margaritaville drink packets.

Ellen: 3:45

How fitting that there are Margaritaville drinks. I think I can sit up all day at my office too, not just at a pool party, yeah.

Tish: 3:57

Well, what about you, Ellen? What is your obsession for this week?

Ellen: 4:01

Well, tish, I spent about 10 hours on my obsession this weekend. It is a book. It's called All the Light we Cannot See, and I'm about 10 years late to the party on this book, if you can believe it, because you know what a big reader I am. This book is amazing. It's by Anthony Dorr, 200 weeks on the bestseller list, 15 million copies and a Pulitzer Prize, and it took me almost 10 years to get to. How did you?

Tish: 4:33

miss that one. I really don't know. I must have been on vacation that week when it came out.

Ellen: 4:40

Oh no, maybe it was the three kids back in 2014 that had me under the gun, but it's an amazing story. It's the two parallel stories that during World War II in France and Germany and the stories intertwine and it's bittersweet and amazing, and I feel like I left some friends on the last page, so we'll put a link to it.

Tish: 5:04

Oh, I love those kind of books, let's kind of dive in here. I wanted to ask you did you realize that Margaritaville was actually inspired by Key West Florida?

Ellen: 5:16

I did not know that but I did a little research because you know how we like our facts and our figures. We do. And you know, jimmy moved there from Nashville after getting a gig and he was like instantly smitten with Key West and that's where he met his second wife, jane, who was his wife for all these years. But it sounds like Key West was a rocking place in the early 70s with authors, famous authors, musicians, sailors, yachtsmen, all mixing together. So Margaritaville. Here's the specific story. He told a friend that he had stopped at lunch at a local Mexican restaurant before this friend was going to drop him off at the airport for a flight home and he got drinking and they had one Margaritaville, they had two and he kind of came up with the idea that that's just like Margaritaville Key West and it became history and that song is ranked in the top 300 songs of the century.

Tish: 6:18

Oh my gosh, I know you know again it. Just there's something about his music that just speaks to us.

Ellen: 6:27

Yes, and it's formed a whole brand if I could say that, like a cultural brand around. You know this idea of relaxing and putting your toes in the sand and just having another beverage right and not little little care.

Tish: 6:45

So, alan, I know I've been to Margaritaville down in Key West. What about you? Have you been?

Ellen: 6:51

Yes, I have, but it wasn't until recently. I had a business trip to Miami and popped down there and it was. So I mean, what a place, what a place. So let's share some Margaritaville memories, right? Oh, yes, I have to say that his music to me is laid back and it's carefree and it's adventurous and it makes it really relevant for those of us at this stage of life with balancing careers and kids and family and parents. And you know, there's a lot of self-discovery that comes with midlife, and I think there's a lot of self-discovery that you can find in the Jimmy Buffett song.

Tish: 7:34

You know, some people call it Trop Rock.

Ellen: 7:37

Right, like for tropical rock.

Tish: 7:39

Exactly yes.

Ellen: 7:41

Wow, well, and you know what? I know that these songs were the soundtrack of midlifers. I say from our teens, our 20s, until now, I mean I must have sung Margaritaville. I'm going to say several thousand times, right, and a few at karaoke. But I'll share my personal Jimmy Buffett story now, yeah, let me hear it. I'd love to hear, all right. So once upon a time, kathy Kathy and I were sitting in a bar in Ensenada, mexico. It was pouring rain out. We were having a few Margaritas.

Ellen: 8:18

We met some fellas that were bringing a boat around from the Caribbean up to San Diego and they invited us out on their yacht to have dinner and the entire time on that boat we sang Cheeseburger and Parashtati and Margaritaville and you name it. And I have to say they put us on a little boat back to the shore at you know, midnight or one or two.

Tish: 8:46

Oh my gosh.

Ellen: 8:48

Those Jimmy Buffett songs on that boat. It just seemed appropriate, so that's my.

Tish: 8:54

Oh, wasting away in Ensenada Mexico.

Ellen: 8:58

I think we were at someplace called Husong's Pantana for a bit, but Kathy and Kathy, they could probably share more about the three fellas. We ended up naming them Gin Rum and here.

Tish: 9:13

They were named by the end of the night, oh yeah, again, it's just that kind of laid back atmosphere For me. Margaritaville, oh so I remember I was down on a trip to Miami and again it was like, oh, we need to go down to Margaritaville. And rented a red convertible, driving down with the top down Jimmy Buffett music blaring on the radio and I had gone down with a friend of mine and he is playing Blonde Stranger for me and that was my song for me. Who's that Blonde Stranger? And it was just. It was like nothing else in the world was happening, like time stopped, and I think that's kind of what people embrace about his music. It's not about life, it's not about it's about taking a break from life.

Ellen: 10:19

Yeah, yeah, I would have to agree with you, and we have so many responsibilities at midlife that we want to escape from and to go with Jimmy Buffett and his music. He was just so charming and it was timeless. And I feel like his songs started meaning more here as I grew older, right.

Tish: 10:42

Absolutely. You know, as a longtime Jimmy Buffett fan, the relatability of his music has only deepened during midlife, for me as well.

Ellen: 10:54

Yeah, I'm really going to miss him, and Jimmy Buffett's lyrics often resonate with the challenges we have in midlife, and I know that we chose three songs that have some big midlife messages for us. So let's talk about the three Tish. You start with the first one.

Tish: 11:13

Well, his music really is that perfect midlife soundtrack. So I think the first one we need to talk about is changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes. If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane. You know those lyrics remind us of the importance of maintaining I don't know that sense of humor and perspective during life's changes and the challenging times of midlife.

Ellen: 11:47

I love it. I really relate to that and you know we all need to have a sense of humor as we grow older. All right, so I'm going to choose. A pirate looks at 40. And this song I think you know couldn't be better it's. It's really a bittersweet story. The lyrics of a washed up drug smuggler who looks, he's looking back on 40 years and you know he kind of expresses that you know this whole thing of piracy on the high seas was long gone. He was, he was a pirate, like he was a pirate. So it always caught me that, you know, some people think 40 is the time to look back. Some people think 50. Some people look 60, think 60. But you know you really can and this is a great song. If folks haven't heard it they should really take a few minutes to listen to it.

Tish: 12:42

You know, again it's that, leaving reality behind for a moment, you know who dreams of being a pirate. So, and I think it wouldn't be, it wouldn't be acceptable if we didn't use Margaritaville, of course you know this idea of wasting away again in Margaritaville searching for that lost shaker of salt. I mean these iconic lyrics, they truly captured the desire that we all have in us to escape the routine and the responsibilities that we all have in life and just kind of daydream our way forward.

Ellen: 13:25

It's so true, and let me tell you just the word Margarita, it takes you to that place. The salty rim, the lime, the tart lime juice. I mean, it really is an escape in itself, and I think that that song came out in the 70s. So we have been listening to that song our entire, almost entire youth, right, right, and you know each one of these three songs Margaritaville a pirate looks at 40 and changes in latitude, changes in attitude. They're all about transformation, transformative stages, and you know what? To me, jimmy Buffett seemed to really be enjoying his midlife to the max, and I think that's also something that I came away with. This guy was still rocking, singing, performing and loving it into his mid 70s.

Tish: 14:27

You know that midlife just often comes with this desire to have new adventures and, as Jimmy said, I've got a Caribbean soul I can barely control. I love that. So I want to talk about why Jimmy Buffett's music inspires people to want to explore new horizons, whether it's embarking on a solo journey or embracing a new hobby or making any type of changes in life's course.

Ellen: 15:03

You know, tish, this is so appropriate for us. I mean, we talk about this all the time that midlife is a time for adventures. It's a time to do things that scare you right, things that push you. It's a time, if you want to go solo, pick up a new hobby, but also this idea of really getting away from your regular life and doing something bucket list, spectacular new. I think that Jimmy Buffett really symbolized all these things to me.

Tish: 15:38

You know they always call his biggest fans. You know the super dedicated fans parrot heads right yeah. And and you know we talk a lot about the importance of being in a community on our podcast, right.

Ellen: 15:54

Yeah, we do, and I think this is really appropriate too. I mean, in the parking lot of a Jimmy Buffett concert is like half of the fun, it's the concert before the concert. And parrot heads are just a blast to be around with and they're vibrant and they're supportive and, again, everything we talk about on this podcast.

Tish: 16:19

Yeah, and I think it's important for us to explore that camaraderie that Jimmy Buffett super fans, these parrot heads right, and discuss the connection that especially midlife women find within this unique fan base. You know that strong bonds that form around this shared love for Jimmy's music.

Ellen: 16:46

Yeah, I mean, I love going and seeing music with friends and being able to sing every line every moment, experience it and think about singing it in my 20s, probably with a lot of the same people, right. But there also are great groups around, parrot heads and local groups and you know, again, you are really thrust right into a community of kind of like-minded people that really find Jimmy Buffett songs and his life and how he lived it a really strong message, you know. I just want to say also that I went to a concert back in my 20s. I didn't really know that much about Jimmy Buffett at that time but, you know, brought a blanket, had a little sunscreen and thought this is going to be a fun experience. I had more fun before the show probably than during the show, but I loved Hawaiian shirts, crazy hats, the people making special cocktails. I mean, the parking lot was like a concert, as I said, so fun. Now, tisha, have you ever seen Jimmy Buffett live?

Tish: 17:57

I have not gone. I had never gone to see one of his concerts live and, as you were saying, like you know, we first started the podcast today. You know there's all these music legends from our youth and we see we're losing a lot of them right now because we're all growing up right, and all I can say to everyone is, if you get the opportunity to see you know an artist that you really love, take it, because you just don't know how much longer we have them with us. So I wish I had gone to a Jimmy Buffett concert, but I never did.

Ellen: 18:36

I know I just shared this quick little story with you right now, tisha, about my mom, who was a huge Elvis fan. Was your mom an Elvis fan?

Tish: 18:46

You know, she really wasn't.

Ellen: 18:48

Right, right, either you were, you weren't.

Tish: 18:50

Either were, you weren't yeah.

Ellen: 18:51

Yeah, I mean that was, you know, as they say, to the left or the right. So my mom must have just been at the age where you know she came of age with Elvis and she adored him Even in those years. You know where it was like. Who is this guy in this white jumpsuit right the day that Elvis died? You know, I think I was 10 or 11 and my mother went to bed for the day and my father cooked us dinner, and it goes to show the power to me that music and musicians have on everyone, male, female. You know, whatever you, whoever you are, it's a really powerful connection to our youth or to a certain time in life, and also to that artist itself. So I'm with you.

Tish: 19:41

If you know, there's something about music helping us navigate through life, right? Yes, when you hear a song, it can transport you back to a high school dance, or it can just transport you in time, right? So life challenges can be so daunting, but here's the thing about it with Jimmy Buffett's music. His songs often carry messages of resilience and hope and in this segment, I think we really need to explore how his music inspired and uplifted people during difficult times. Ellen, did you know how many surgical rooms and ERs play Jimmy Buffett music to break the intensity of you know what's going on, whether it's a surgery or serious stuff coming in?

Ellen: 20:40

No, I had no idea about that, but as soon as you said it, it makes so much sense to me. And this is the power of his music. For sure, it's soothing, but it's up to eating, hopeful, and that's exactly what you need if you're in that kind of medical crisis. Right, you Tish, you might know about Jimmy. What's that? Well, I was surprised by this one too, but he wrote three books and you're bestsellers, I know I again never heard of that. And he also wrote several children's books with one of his daughters. So a multi-talented artist.

Tish: 21:23

Yes, he was talented on many different fronts, so I want us to get swept up in a hurricane. What are the main five life lessons that we can find? While we drift away in the lyrics of the music of Jimmy Buffett? And I think by kind of going through these life lessons, it's really going to be our tribute to Jenny.

Ellen: 21:50

That's right, so I'll kick it off. The first lesson is about embracing the laid back lifestyle, and you said this earlier. So well, tish, but here's Jimmy's words it's important to have as much fun as possible while we're here. It balances out times when the mind fields of life explodes.

Tish: 22:09

Wow, that one's deep, you know, and again, I think this first one that we're going over this is really why he's so beloved. You know it's again, you know we mentioned it a few times, but it takes us to a different place. So it's not about real life struggles, it's about leaving that behind and it's, even if it's just for a short time.

Ellen: 22:38

So true, fun, that's the word I'm focusing on here, right.

Tish: 22:43

Yes, now the second life lesson is about following your passion and dreams right. And again in Jimmy's words, I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.

Ellen: 23:03

Again. I like this one is deep and really it says to me don't fight right, but find another way. Adjust and you can get there, and it might not, it might be as fast as you want either, but it's all about getting to the destination and the journey of getting to the destination right.

Tish: 23:22

I agree with that Getting. It's the journey, it's a focus on the journey. Yes, you might not sail a straight path from here to there, but you're going to reach your destination. Yeah, I like that one. The visual one is just very impactful.

Ellen: 23:39

But we always talk about this idea of following your passion and dreams, and and he embraces that with very symbolic words- I agree, and also it really tells me a lot about who he was right when I hear this and it gives us a little insight because his career wasn't a linear as well. So I really like that one. So our third lesson is to cherish and fold flesher. And Jimmy said if there's a heaven for me, I'm sure it has a beat to touch and I think, wow, toes in the sand, right, and I've seen a lot of caricatures and things on on social media and there's always sand with him.

Tish: 24:29

Now that you know we've talked about on podcasts before, about how the sound of the waves, the cadence of the waves coming in, how it tends to reset our souls in a way, and I always find myself drawn back to the beach, especially when I'm in time of conflict, and so he's so synonymous with that beach life. But I'm I'm just picturing Jimmy right now with a margarine in one hand, in a beach chair, toes in the sand, and you know he's in his heaven.

Ellen: 25:11

Exactly.

Tish: 25:13

Yeah, so our fourth life lesson that we can learn from Jimmy's music is about to embrace a positive outlook Again. Changes in latitude, changes in attitude as life changes. You just got to change your outlook on it.

Ellen: 25:36

You know, I am a firm believer that your outlook and how you think about things is, you know almost 90% of it. When life happens, the only thing you can do is change your own attitude, and I think Jimmy had this right you are in control of your own destiny here, in changes in latitude, changes in attitude. Well said, mr Buffett.

Tish: 26:02

Well, I think it in almost like I would say almost the opposite, alan that sometimes life changes your latitude and the only thing you can do is change your attitude. You know, you know.

Ellen: 26:20

I can see that.

Tish: 26:22

I spent the afternoon with a really dear friend who was her name is Tony and she's recovering from open heart surgery and we talked a lot today about reframing and relooking at or changing those attitudes of you could look at the same event in a different way, frame it in a different way and all of a sudden it has a positive connotation to it and I think Jimmy's music always took whatever it was and made a positive attitude about it.

Ellen: 27:03

Love that. Look at it, tish. I love it. It's flip-flopping it. So changes in latitude make changes in attitude as well as changes in attitude Can make changes in latitude. All right, I know we have one more. What?

Tish: 27:18

is it Yep? When life happens, the only thing you can change is your attitude. Ha ha ha.

Ellen: 27:27

Oh man, yeah, yes, yes, but let's also just get to the last one. Do we have another one?

Tish: 27:35

Oh yes, we have one more, Okay, and the last but not least is an important one. So we wanna celebrate the power of community and friendship so strong. And again I gotta lay us with another Jimmy Buffett quote. I was hungry and went for a bite, ran into a chum with a bottle of rum and we wound up drinking all night.

Ellen: 28:00

Oh man, I just love that Because it's just about the power of friendship and just talking all night, right, it's like letting go of those things of. I've gotta go, I've gotta get to bed, I've gotta get up early tomorrow morning. It's like, no, we've got a bottle of rum and we're just gonna.

Ellen: 28:20

Ha, ha, ha ha. And it's the power of friendship. Again, we talk about this on the podcast a lot. It only takes one great friend and you're all set right. And this really tells me that it's simple Went for a bite, found my friend talked all night. I love it.

Tish: 28:40

Right and I think we, in our pursuit of our goals and dreams and all this, we don't always slow down enough to stay for that bite, to stay for that rum and to stay up all night drinking. And those are the times that you really built the memories Again. I've gotta go back to my day with my friend Toni today and she goes I'm sure you have a lot of things to do today and I said no. I said today is I've just saved today just to talk with you.

Ellen: 29:18

I love it. You just gave a good message for us to slow down and be in the moment. But you know, it wouldn't be a Jimmy Buffett tribute if we didn't talk a little mixology, Some tropical trash men. So, Nick Salich's Tish, what do you have for us today?

Tish: 29:36

Okay, I will be looking for my Lost Shaker of Salt and I am your classic Margarita girl. I like the Margarita on the rocks and, as Jimmy tells us, it's five o'clock somewhere, so yeah, when the Margaritas are featured on the menu, that's my drink. I don't know what it is about it.

Ellen: 30:02

Salt or no salt, salt or no salt.

Tish: 30:05

I'm actually a no salt. I know shocking yes. I'm actually a no.

Ellen: 30:12

I wish we had a statistic on how many people go salt, no salt.

Tish: 30:16

Oh, we might have to look that up and wait on people later. But what about you, ellen, when you think of a Jimmy Buffett cocktail? What do you think of?

Ellen: 30:27

Well, I heard and I don't know, this could just be hair-safe, but I've made this. Recently, jimmy liked dark rum, coconut water and fresh squeezed lime juice, and I try it. It is light and it is delicious, and the coconut water rehydrates you with, I think, some like electrolytes, and it's pretty yummy, wow. I don't know if it has a name, but Interesting.

Tish: 30:53

That sounds good. That sounds a little less intense than a Margarita. Sounds like a light Margarita.

Ellen: 31:00

Yeah, it seems like it doesn't have as much sugar. So I think it's probably, and I think rum to Keyless, so it's kind of. I guess Jimmy's take on the same thing, so it's yummy.

Tish: 31:14

Yeah, so we were talking about earlier different memories and stuff and again, I think one of my best memories is singing Blonde Stranger driving down to Key West, what it means for me. It was like that snippet of time where I could feel wild and carefree and just leaving my stress behind, even if it was only for a brief moment.

Ellen: 31:45

I love that. I'm really thinking in my mind those pictures of you're just on the bridges, kind of raised on the water, going out to Key West and zooming in on you in a red convertible tish. It makes me feel happy just talking about it.

Tish: 32:02

You know go, there might have been a cigar involved.

Ellen: 32:08

With you or the other passenger. Believe it or not, me. Well, that's for another episode. That's another episode I can't believe, I don't know that. But as we wrap up today's episode, you know I really like this idea of Island Time 2 and having that mindset in mid-life is really important. So it's really about finding serenity and living in the moment and really kind of leaning into the rhythm of life all around Jimmy Buffett's music.

Tish: 32:42

Yes, and you know. I just wanna thank everyone for joining us on this musical voyage through the sun-soaked melodies of Jimmy Buffett's music and it's profound significance in our lives, especially those in mid-life. You know we need to remember. No matter where you are on your journey, those sweet sounds of Jimmy's tunes can bring positivity, a cheeseburger and a touch of paradise to your day.

Ellen: 33:17

I love that. I'll take the cheeseburger and it's a reminder to me that music has the power to heal and to elevate the spirit and as we talk about making mid-life more fun and joyous and fulfilling, so we're gonna say till next week, mid-lifers, but we're gonna bring you out with a little song. Here's to you, jimmy, nibbling on sponge cake.

Tish: 33:45

Watching the sun bake.

Ellen: 33:48

Come in my sick string.

Tish: 33:50

On my front porch swing.

Ellen: 33:53

Wasting away again.

Tish: 33:56

In Margaritaville.

Ellen: 33:58

Searching for my.

Tish: 34:01

Lost shaker of salt. Some people claim that there's a one Woman to blame and I know, do, do, do, do, do.

Ellen: 34:14

It's nobody's fault, it's fault.

Tish: 34:18

Okay, so Ellen and I will not be making any future music videos.

Ellen: 34:26

We will not Till next week mid-lifers.

Tish: 34:29

Raise your Margarita up to Jimmy Till next week.