Requiem for a Parrothead "One Particular Harbor"
Posted: April 7, 2013 3:44 pm
I have not posted much in this forum over the years but I felt this would be a good place to share the news of the passing of my best friend Rob Gallup (1948-2013)
I have known Rob since junior high school but the strongest bond we had was around Jimmy Buffett.
Rob first turned me on to Buffett music in the late 70's and took me to my first concert in 1988 at the Pacific Amphitheater. The parking lot scene was not yet developed but we did see a lot of people in costume. It was enough to bring me back and we attended the LA concerts allmost every year after that. The Irvine parking lot was by far the best as we arrived in our fin-topped SUV and joined the festivities. One year Rob organized a Buffett trivia contest with Junior Mints as prizes. Other gigs we did were passing out checks for the Bank of Bad Habits and giving out shooters with gummy sharks( the Fin-Phin diet) The last two years we went to the Vegas concerts but Rob suffered from a progressive lung disease and was less able to move around.
Aside from the concert fun, Rob often found lines from Jimmy's songs to be applicable to various situations in his life. Growing older but not up... Be good and you will be lonesome....Like a man just released from indenture... I go for younger women.... It's a semi-true story.... The list goes on and I will forever miss having him to share those references with. One song which meant the most to Rob was "One Particular Harbor" For him, that harbor was Poipu Beach in Kauaii where he spent many happy days and always longed to return to. Last year at Rob's last concert Jimmy opened with the song.
Anyway after the last concert Rob's illness progressed rapidly and he passed away last month. At his bedside were two of the younger women he had lived with previously ( "they'll come back one day; still can manage a smile") Rob had never wanted a solemn funeral so a bunch of his closest friends organized the kind of party he would have wanted. It was held on the hill above a golf course, as Rob was also an avid golfer. Some 200 people from his professional and personal life attended shared stories about what a good friend and father he had been. I got up and spoke about how much a part music had played in Rob's life and explained the meaning of "One Particular Harbor" to Rob and then as the sun went down I played the song on steel drum...somewhat slowed and fading on the last chorus. I like to think his spirit is at that harbor now.
The party then moved inside the clubhouse for an open bar and more Buffett music overhead. Tears and margaritas flowed and it was a time of comfort and sharing for those of us who knew him. For all of you who never knew Rob, but I know are kindred spirits, I wanted to share the feeling. I hope it is not too sad.
I have known Rob since junior high school but the strongest bond we had was around Jimmy Buffett.
Rob first turned me on to Buffett music in the late 70's and took me to my first concert in 1988 at the Pacific Amphitheater. The parking lot scene was not yet developed but we did see a lot of people in costume. It was enough to bring me back and we attended the LA concerts allmost every year after that. The Irvine parking lot was by far the best as we arrived in our fin-topped SUV and joined the festivities. One year Rob organized a Buffett trivia contest with Junior Mints as prizes. Other gigs we did were passing out checks for the Bank of Bad Habits and giving out shooters with gummy sharks( the Fin-Phin diet) The last two years we went to the Vegas concerts but Rob suffered from a progressive lung disease and was less able to move around.
Aside from the concert fun, Rob often found lines from Jimmy's songs to be applicable to various situations in his life. Growing older but not up... Be good and you will be lonesome....Like a man just released from indenture... I go for younger women.... It's a semi-true story.... The list goes on and I will forever miss having him to share those references with. One song which meant the most to Rob was "One Particular Harbor" For him, that harbor was Poipu Beach in Kauaii where he spent many happy days and always longed to return to. Last year at Rob's last concert Jimmy opened with the song.
Anyway after the last concert Rob's illness progressed rapidly and he passed away last month. At his bedside were two of the younger women he had lived with previously ( "they'll come back one day; still can manage a smile") Rob had never wanted a solemn funeral so a bunch of his closest friends organized the kind of party he would have wanted. It was held on the hill above a golf course, as Rob was also an avid golfer. Some 200 people from his professional and personal life attended shared stories about what a good friend and father he had been. I got up and spoke about how much a part music had played in Rob's life and explained the meaning of "One Particular Harbor" to Rob and then as the sun went down I played the song on steel drum...somewhat slowed and fading on the last chorus. I like to think his spirit is at that harbor now.
The party then moved inside the clubhouse for an open bar and more Buffett music overhead. Tears and margaritas flowed and it was a time of comfort and sharing for those of us who knew him. For all of you who never knew Rob, but I know are kindred spirits, I wanted to share the feeling. I hope it is not too sad.
![[smilie=hearts.gif]](./images/smilies/hearts.gif "hearts"){kind=small}
Thank you for sharing your friendship with us.