These Are My Dreams - and JIMMY is a part of them. Dear Jimmy, Can I call you that? I feel like we’re on a first name basis… You see, I’ve been to Margaritaville a time or two. And Jimmy, you were there with me every time… even if you didn’t know it. Gosh, Jimmy, this one hits hard. Real hard. Because - Just like millions of folks, I woke up to the news… that you're gone. You’ve left us. I Truly Was Shocked. I didn't even know you were ill, and then I got the news via a text this morning from my Mom. Usually, when I hear news of a celebrity death, the news hits me just like any other piece of news… A little distant… and a bit far from home. Maybe a prayer, and a well wish to the family, deep in my heart, and no one, but me, knows what I wished. Or what I prayed, as that individual goes to Heaven. But Jimmy - your news hit me differently… Much different. Because, you see, I found my lost shaker of salt a very long time ago. And how come you never told us you were sick? I know, I know, you kept it private for a reason. You really didn’t want your Parrotheads to worry about you. Because - worry - really is not part of the Margarataville state of mind, is it? So, Immediately upon hearing the news, flashes of Margaritaville went through my head, and flew right into my heart… And I was right in the middle of all of my dreams… And I could taste that infamous cheeseburger… And I could visibly see that bottle of Heinz 57. And I went further away, deep into my dreams, and I thought of how much you have meant to me. Because - All through the years… As I grew up… And as life got hard… And living got even harder… And I grew older… And hopefully a little bit wiser… And never even just a little bit wealthier… You were always there for me. During all the hard times. In the back of my mind. And always in my heart. It’s actually MIND BLOWING to me how many of your hotels we have been to, including my dogs! And how many of your restaurants we’ve been to. And how much of your good food we have enjoyed. And HOW many memories that me and my family HAVE that YOU have been a part of. You don’t know any of that. And SO, I thank you today. And I will miss you always. And it’s up to us now. Your devoted fans and Parrottheads. To keep living life even just a little bit differently than the rest of the world. To live a little bit loose. And maybe just a little bit more carefree. Maybe just because if we couldn’t laugh, we’d all go just a little bit insane. So even if people laugh AT me. And Even if I’m the joke. It’s all ok. Because I’ve already changed my Latitude. Which did help change my Attitude. Because Mother Ocean called to me many years ago now. And Because I’ve been on that 7 Mile Bridge. And I’ve sat at the end of the world. And I’ve felt that salty air on my skin. And I’ve breathed in those Heavenly Mallory Square sunsets. And in my dreams I HAVE sailed away. And I truly do know exactly where Margaritaville is located. And I’m more than happy to post the address directly in the comments section down below. Because I don’t want to take life too seriously. And because I hope others do the same. Because as life gets more conventional every day… And modern living gets more serious every waking morning… Here’s to hoping you’re not one of the last of your kind… You were that constant reminder in the back of my heart, to continue being somewhat unconventional, because that’s me and who I really am. So with that news of your passing, my heart aches today. And I do wish you well. And your family is in my prayers. And you are in all my thoughts. But maybe I don’t need to pray for YOU right now.. Because as when most people go to Heaven, I know they are up there where they Angels are singing… Your trip to Heaven means something a little bit different… It’s what I’d call a Sail Away Party that’s a bit more unconventional… Because as you arrived in Heaven - Which is right where you should be - The angels are not singing TO you - I know YOU are singing to the angels tonight. You’re putting on a free show. The best concert the Heavens have ever seen. And they are lucky to have you there. And your song is on repeat. And the drinks are ever-flowing. And the rims are salty. And someday, the rest of us will be there, with you, wasting away in that Heavenly sunshine. And no longer searching… ~
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3/9/2020 0 Comments #56) Shell World ~ Key LargoYou can’t pass GO without collecting $200 - and you can’t pass through Key Largo without collecting some shells - at Shell World. Located @ 97600 Overseas Highway in Key Largo, Florida, Shell World - to me - is the single best souvenir shop in all of the beautiful Keys. While everyone’s driving to get further and further south, I passionately believe it’s also always a good idea to stop while enroute. And that stop can be a small and very brief break, or it can be a much longer one. It can be a lunch outing, an overnight, or something, somewhere in between. But either way, on our travels we always take a break. Get some lunch. Or I’ll do some stretches, and I always get my steps in. I may get a coffee. Or, better yet, I’ll do some good old fashioned shopping… browsing, souvenir hunting. And when shopping is classified as better than coffee, for me, that’s a good store indeed. On our first trip to the Keys a few years back, we already knew about Shell World and that we were most definitely going to be making a stop there. My mother-in-law had told us about the place, and she had also brought us back a sea urchin from her visit there, which I now have sitting front and center atop my white, antique dresser in my bedroom. And since our first visit to the store, Shell World has moved locations. They’re now situated in the center medium on the Overseas Highway. Their former location had them placed in the Southbound lanes of the highway - meaning all northbound drivers had to cross over to get to the store. Now, travelers going both north and south bound can access Shell World with equal and greater ease. Don’t let its looks deceive you either. Shell World is huge. Housed in a simple and brightly painted building, once inside, it’s a shopper's paradise. I walked and I walked, and I browsed and I browsed. The store just kept going. I’d say allow at least twenty minutes to a half hour inside Shell World - if you love shopping as much as I do. But I’m pretty confident I might have been inside there even a tad longer than that. You’ll feast your eyes on every type of sea shell you can possibly imagine. Coral, starfish, shark teeth, sand dollars, shells in their natural state and shells that have been painted or otherwise decorated in some fashion, sea urchins, sea glass… the list can go on. And that’s just the shells themselves. Shell World is not just one room - it is many, many rooms, all connected in one large building. You can walk and walk, and not see the same thing twice. After checking out all the shells, there are then the typical touristy souvenirs such as tees, sweatshirts and hoodies, bathing suits, flip flops, beach towels and other gear for days in the sun, baseball caps and sun hats. And I really loved checking out all the jewelry. I spent way too long browsing through it all, and I think the jewelry sucked up most of my time in the store. I’m actually not very sure how I passed it all up - in order to buy a tank top and some shells from the world - apparently the shells were more important to me. I also purchased a piece of red coral, which was on both my “definitely” and “must buy” lists. And I was really happy with the very comfy and lightweight tank I picked out as well. I then snagged a few postcards, stickers, and a few other unique shells and other finds. All items added up, I spent a total of $57.18 at Shell World. And honestly, I did not even feel too overcharged, only just a bit overcharged, in a place that could easily sell at even much higher prices to brief encounters with endless tourists. And now that Shell World has officially become a Keys tradition for me, I will most definitely be going back on my next adventure to Key Largo. Whether I’m just once again quickly passing through the island, I will, at a minimum, be utilizing Shell World to get out of the car, do some browsing, and to stretch my legs. And if I’m once again spending the night on Key Largo, I’ll still stop and do the same. I’d highly recommend stopping in while you’re traveling the Overseas Highway. If you love shopping, you’ll be in a shoppers paradise, while you’re also, literally, in paradise. ~ Have you been to Shell World in Key Largo, Florida? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below: Hey - you, over there - feel free to check out these other stories about my Floridian travels, right here. And don’t forget to sign up to be a Sunshine Subscriber while you’re at it, y’all: 13] 2 Pro’s & 2 Cons About My 2 Night Stay - In Celebration, FL 18] Sea & Sky Jax Weekend ~ Fun In The Florida Sun, Sea, Sky & Sand 24] In Real Life ~ My First Visit To A Southern Living Idea House 29] Dinner & A Show ~ The 26th Annual St. Augustine Nights of Lights 40] Visiting The Florida Cracker Kitchen ~ Jacksonville 42] Where Does The Chicken Cross The Road? 44] Nothing Finer Than Coffee In The Keys ~ The Coffee Plantation Cafe 46] Key Largo, Montego, Baby Why Don’t We Go? 52] Keeping Cool - And Creamy ~ In Key West |
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