I Know Derek

Derek and his friend Jane.

SPOTLIGHT: As often as possible I want to shine a light on some person, place or organization who epitomizes the Be F.A.T. way of life. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Derek.

Of all the joints…

On a recent summer evening I met Derek, and his beautiful friend, Jane, at a Jimmy Buffett concert. For Parrotheads, (followers of Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band), making new friends is Cheeseburger in Paradise nirvana. We know every song by heart, dance with complete strangers and for the better part of the day, congregate in a tropical, if not quite, religious experience.

Turns out Derek, from Canada, is a traveling Parrothead. This concert was Derek’s ninety-seventh, he said, as in 9-7. I was impressed, and then quick to point out that if he’d put the money spent following J.B. and the band in the bank — tickets, travel, lodging, food — assuming a conservative compound interest rate, a sizeable nest-egg would finance his new sailboat. In cash.

He was quick to say: “You can’t take it with you.” And by the grin as radiant as his Hawaiian shirt, he lived by his words.

We talked for a bit…about truly experiencing life. Doing what makes you happy. Sharing good times and joy with people. Living the dream, whatever it means to you.

One cool guy…

But then Derek held out his arm. And I thought: Hell, yes, this man is for real!

Stenciled in bold black marker on his left forearm, a personal billboard: 97. Derek’s ode to a singer/songwriter whose entire career personifies a beachy casual vibe that most of us only get to enjoy a few weeks each year.

“I rather die while I’m living, than live while I’m dead.” ~ Jimmy Buffett from the song, Growing Older But Not Up.

Derek has made this lifestyle his life’s work. He’s living the dream (we envy) — a global groupie following the sun and the music. He has a pretty good idea where he’ll celebrate the concert #100 milestone. I’d love to be in Key West when he does, just saying…maybe he’ll send a picture.

97 Jimmy Buffett concerts.

But wait there’s more…

Here’s where the chance encounter began to unravel in the coolest way.

(Full disclosure: I hope I have these “facts” straight…there had been a fair amount of rum consumed at this point, on my part).

About fifteen years ago Derek came to a Great Woods concert in Massachusetts. His tickets were on the lawn/dirt, before the venue stuck expensive seats in the grass and left barely enough walking room in the way way back.

With no blanket to sit on, he yelled out, asking if anyone was willing to share. A young girl and her friend said “yes”. And for the past fifteen years Derek has stayed in touch with her — she’s since married and had two babies. They meet up whenever he travels to a concert here. If I wondered for a second if the story was true, on cue, she walked by and he graciously introduced her (no name recollection on my part. See above reference to Rum).

So by my weak math calculation Derek has known this girl, now woman, for a total of eight hours over fifteen years.

This guy is a rip-off artist…

Derek also mentioned another woman named “Sue” and her brilliant idea that sort of went viral. She’s known to hand out “I KNOW SUE” buttons at concerts. Suddenly people wanted to be part of the “SUE Fan Club”. I didn’t catch the reason why. But don’t we all want to associate with the cool kids?

Derek followed suit with “I KNOW DEREK” buttons. When people began to offer a few bucks for one, he told them to donate to a cancer charity.

To this day, Derek says he’s unsure how much money has been donated. He modestly inferred it’s quite a bit.

Unfortunately for me, he was out of buttons by the time we met.

At the end of the concert after we’d danced and sang every word to every song, we hugged good-bye. I walked away from this lovely, larger than life Parrothead, believing he is what he appears to be: a nice, fun man just trying to improve the planet, one button at a time.

And despite not having one that says so, I’m happy to say “I KNOW DEREK”.

BE F-G AWESOME TODAY!

Original graphic: Stephanie DelTorchio

Image: Personal photograph

People: Derek and Jane/Jimmy Buffett Concert #97/#17 respectfully