The Time Eric Raith Had Lunch with Jimmy Buffett

For a long time, I, Eric Raith, was a member of The Palm Beach Kiwanis Club, which met at The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. Every Tuesday, we had lunch all around the Breakers Hotel in various rooms that were available when the Breakers wasn’t using them for events, including The Italian Restaurant, which was located on the Breakers’ grounds next door. The Breakers Hotel has been gracious enough to host our club since its inception in 1961. We enjoyed “white glove” service and our dedicated staff at The Breakers Hotel every Tuesday year-round. This was the day we were hosting the local. School: the Palm Beach Day School. The Palm Beach Kiwanis did this once per month. We gave out an award to local schools, which, for our chapter, the Palm Beach Kiwanis Club, was The Palm Beach Day School.

I can’t remember why, but I was running late. When I got there, everybody was already seated. They hadn’t started anything yet. I went over to one of the other members, Stewart Shulman, and he said, “Go sit there by Jimmy.” And I thought to myself, “Jimmy? We don’t have a Jimmy in the club.” So I walked over to the table, and as I got closer, I recognized “Jimmy” right away. It was Jimmy Buffett.

Jimmy Buffett was sitting at a large round table, and it was just Jimmy and his family. It was his wife and three kids, and they were young. His young daughter, who was attending The Palm Beach Day School, was receiving the award from our Palm Beach Kiwanis Club. I sat down next to him, introduced myself. And at this large round table, there were other seats, but no one else sat there, and to this day, I still don’t know why. I was the only one who sat at the table with him. They just sent me over there, and I had lunch with Jimmy Buffett and his family. Jimmy was very nice. We had a conversation throughout lunch. Being a real estate broker, I thought to myself, well, I would just love to pitch my services and my company. As a businessman, I wanted to give him my business card and tell him about my business services, but I didn’t want him to be uncomfortable, and I didn’t want him to feel annoyed at that, so I didn’t say anything. I just talked with him about some things that were current at the time. Jimmy did pitch all of the things that he was doing, including a movie about owls.

Some moments in life transcend the ordinary, where the environment and company create a perfect blend of nostalgia, fun, and inspiration. For me, Eric Raith, this was an unforgettable experience enjoying lunch with the legendary musician Jimmy Buffett at The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. It was a great experience realizing I shared a meal with someone whose music had fundamentally shaped the landscape of American pop culture. Jimmy Buffett, known for his trademark laid-back style and breezy tunes that evoke images of beach life and paradise, embodies a spirit that has connected deeply with millions. Jimmy Buffett was very nice and charming, and I enjoyed meeting him.