I love this thread !!!
BG, thanks so much for sharing your stories (again) for us BN newbies!
It must be great, not only to have lived those amazing experiences, but to have yourself become a part of Buffett-ism with all those shout-outs.
I actually do have a Jimmy story myself ...
After traveling to Key West, the Caribbean, New Orleans, Mobile, Auburn University, Pascagoula and many years of concerts, and a few near-misses, I had the chance to meet Bubba in Charleston in 1999.
I was an HR manager for a small, local hopitality corporation (inns, great restaurants and a nice hotel in the market). Jimmy was a "friend from Key West days" of our primary shareholder and we heard he would be coming to have dinner at one of the restauants on the recommendation of Sunshine Smith. Jimmy was spending a good bit of time in Charleston in those days, so it wasn't too hard to believe. We opened a new seafood restaurant and, sure enough, about 6 months later the rumors started up again. My hubby and I had spent all day Saturday on the beach at Kiawah Island, and I was in the shower when he handed me a note "Bubba at Hank's - 7:15." I was thrilled!! We headed down to the market and everyone at the restaurant was excited for me as well! They all knew I was a "true fan"
Anyway, we were seated and when he came in I had a great view of his booth ... just had to look up from my dinner straight across at him. The restaurant manager came over to talk to us and let us know that when he finished dinner, Jimmy would come over to the bar and we'd have a chance to have a drink with him and chat, photo op, etc. And then I unbelievably, unexplainably got COLD FEET. I told my hubby we should just head on down to Tommy Condon's and listen to Steve Carroll & the Bograts. He thought I'd lost my mind ... you've dragged me all over the place to see this guy and now you don't want to meet him?? What I told (and still tell) everyone is that I was afraid he'd have spinach in his teeth and be a complete jerk, but I'd heard enough stories from friends to know that wasn't true. I was honestly afraid I'd try to explain to the man what a tremendously positive impact he and his music have had on my life, LOSE IT, and embarrass myself beyond belief. So we bolted. I apologized on Monday to everyone who had gone to so much trouble to make my dream some true & listened to their stories. The busboy did save me the oversized napkin and it's a cool kitchen towel (that never gets used).
The moral of my story is, if you get the chance, take it ... don't be a wienie like me and regret not speaking up when you had the chance. That's what I loved about "getting the vote out" and living vicariously through Megan, and the story several weeks ago from the guys at the opening of the Myrtle Beach Margaritaville ... THEY WENT FOR IT!!!
