Buffett'ized - by Larry "Squid" Kiewra (with help from Sally Egan)
This story begins before the official start of MOTM, We both needed another overdue vacation (or as Sally puts it - "A Holiday"). So we booked our adventure back in March for an entire week in Key West with the MOTM Convention wrapping it up. This being a return trip for me to Key West and a first time for Sally, I figured a little R&R & sight seeing before the MOTM. We're virgin MOTM'ers, but I had a pretty good idea what it would be like.
The first thing that caught my eye was the Halloween Contest. So I mustered up some unused brain power and sketched myself on paper. At this point Sally figured I was certifiably crazy (with good reason too - I am). The next step was to find all the items I needed, which I did, got suited up and had a photo shoot at Sally's 95 year old Aunt's House (they both thought I was crazy now). Sent a photo to Margaritaville 1 day before the deadline and held my breath for a long week. Low and behold, I get a "Congratulations" for qualifying as the top-5 (at the same time remembering a message I wrote on the websites' Guest Book to Ken-Do about going to Ireland if I qualified). Margaritaville also had an on-line contest, so I sent the link to all my friends, about 400 email contacts! Although I was publicly know as "portable pool guy", it should have been "One Peculiar Harbor".
All packed up, costume in hand and time to go. Friday is upon us, we both go to work, and plan on leaving at 5:30 for the 7:30 flight... wait, make that 3:30 for the 5:30 flight, They changed the flight time. No problem, so what, we leave work before the work day is over! We're comfortable with the fact that we gotta go!
We arrive that night around 11pm, not wanting to start a major journey to town, we figure a night cap at the Casa Marina Bar. Nope. They're all closed. So we listen and hear partying someplace, which turned out to be Louie's Backyard "Afterdeck Bar". So we sip a few down as we unwind from the flight. Sally at this point is in shock. She love's the seaside open-air scene (as do we all), and this is as good as it gets. Before long, it's a few hours later and it's time to rest the weary bodies - back to the Casa.
The following day, Saturday, time for a little sightseeing, I won't go into all the touristy traps we've been too, I think most of us have all been there at one point or another. Since "Fantasy Fest" was still going on, we decide to watch the 'grand finale' Parade that night. Another 'first' for us. WOW, I don't think I've seen more costumes (or less costumes for that matter!) all congregated at one place than in my entire lifetime! Then I was thinking, I should have worn mine - Good thing I didn't (see why later on). We again concluded with a cocktail at the Afterdeck.
Sunday a similar schedule: sightseeing or sun tanning during the day, relaxing in the hot tub at night. I asked one of the daytime bartenders at the Casa Marina bar, and they said they wouldn't be open late until MOTM started. So we picked up our own drinking materials to consume while we relaxed around the pool.
Monday night, we got back a little early from Duval St. (Monday Night Football). We fill up our portable booze goblets (2-16oz soda bottles) and head to the pool for a dip. I head to the bar to see the game for a bit. Fortunately (as I figure), I have the money & keys & cigarettes with me as Sally is swimming. She then comes to the bar to me and asks for a light (for her cigarette), goes back to the poolside and returns a little p/o'ed -- Someone took our drinks and towels (most likely, Casa Marina - inadvertently). I tell her "Look, we'll just head over to Afterdeck for an hour" (as opposed to "lets go back to the room and make new drinks"). I think she liked that, I did, To get me away from watching the game too, So off we go...
Upon our arrival, pretty quiet, a dozen or so people, we sit down at the table between the bar and the ocean and I order a drink. We're sipping our drinks, watching the ocean and the stars and talking about how nice it is here. Some strange reason, I turn around and notice a few people talking a few tables in-between us and the restaurant entrance area. It was kind of dark, all I saw were shadowy figures. So I'm back looking at the stars, 5 seconds pass and, looking out to the sea, I tell Sally "that's Jimmy Buffett". I think she said "where? or what did you say", my ears didn't hear a thing. Another 5 seconds pass, I turn around and look again. Back to Sally "that IS Jimmy Buffett". She didn't know which person I was talking about, so I pointed in the direction, it was still too dimly lit to tell for sure. And a little discussion followed were I finally said "Ok, I bet you that is Jimmy, I'm telling you, I can feel it". Several seconds later our drinks needed refilling... they didn't take that long to be emptied. So I grab the empty glasses and walk to the center of the bar, where no one was sitting, order two more drinks, and make a 180 degree turn while I wait. Sure enough it is Jimmy and he's pulling out a guitar with someone else. I motion to Sally to come on up to the bar with me, as there was room and I wasn't about to give it to anyone else! By now, Sally graciously agreed with me on who I was talking about. Once Jimmy started playing, we, and everyone else at the bar, then listened and joined in the singing for what seemed like hours.
Chatting a bit with Mara Delaney Buffett, who bummed a smoke off me a few times, I was more than happy to oblige. Mara informed us about the Memorial they had earlier in the day for Larry "Groovy" Gray. Savannah Buffett was motioning to a few of us to low key our photos. This was after all, as we just found out, a memorial gathering that returned for a few more memories and music. I think everyone tried hard to curb their photo's as one could. After a while, most of the family gathering had left. With a handful of family & friends left, Jimmy played on. We were invited to move our seats closer and continued our singing.
When Jimmy was done, we just sat not believing what we just went through. As Jimmy was leaving, I went to shake is hand, asking Sally not to worry about any pictures (didn't want to make a big fuss). I gave him my condolences and thanked him for the extraordinary night. Time seemed to stop for those few seconds as we shook hands and glared into each others eyes. It seemed Jimmy knew I was supposed to be there for this. Perhaps I was. Whatever it was, It was a strange feeling, one I will never forget.
I wasn't familiar with many of the faces or people I met there, with the exception of Jimmy & Savannah. Nor was I aware of the Memorial services held there earlier in the day. We would never had been there, had it not been for the circumstances that unfolded that night. All in all, we could have hoped on a plane after that night and it still would have been the best vacation I ever had.
We then walked to the end of pier at the Casa Marina, and again watch the stars, digesting all that just took place. I open my camera bag and my cell phone makes a bee line to a small hole in the floor. SCORE!! My cell wanted to rest on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean! (Probably because I would have made a dozen phone calls that night). I could care less. We were enjoying the moment. (By the way, Sally went swimming 2 days later and recovered the cell phone!! - in true fashion of the Key West Wreckers!)
The remaining days could not compare to the day meeting Jimmy Buffett in person the way we did, but they were definitely a blast. We listened to all the rumors going around that he was in town and that he would show up at the Margaritaville Street Fest. I also heard that he left on Wednesday. If Jimmy showed up again, I would have had a double shot of him. For here it is Friday, and I'm getting suited up for the Halloween Contest.
We head down to the street fest around Noon. That gives me plenty of time to walk to where I gotta go and muscle through the crowd. There must be a few hundred photo's of me out there! And I was enjoying every second of it! I'd pose for anyone! Up on the stage, I didn't win the final audience participation round, but we all had so much fun. The Pirate swept the crowd to his favor. Steve (Fine Line) and myself couldn't believe it! But he deserves it, a fine pirate he was. I ran off with the Internet Poll prize and we all got the runner up prize for being selected as finalists.
By around midnight, I was feeling no pain. This was good! Because the next morning, every muscle in my neck felt like it was holding up a palm tree on a windy day for 12 hours... which it did! In fact I'm still sore!!
We took it easy after that, mingling with fellow Parrotheads, meeting new friends and having a great time. Saturday's Beach Party would offer me one more prize that everyone wanted to rip from my back! - A Key West Hockey Club Jersey! It wasn't until after I told the Coach I would get the puck in the goal before the ice would melt that I found out it was a roller hockey club. So he benched me, and all I could do is enjoy it.
The week was definitely too short. The week was way too much Fun! For our first MOTM, it was truly an incredible experience and definitely requires a return trip next year and the next and so on, and so on. We got lucky getting baptized by Jimmy Buffet in a sense (or Buffett'ized as I like to call it). We may never see Jimmy again as we did, but still can't wait until next year! Thanks for all the fun to all whom we met, see you all soon!
