Newsletter 5/04
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Volume 20 No. 5 Christmas 2004 COCONUTCOCONUT TELEGRAPHTELEGRAPH www.margaritaville.com A Place In The Shade My fantasy has been to find that perfect laid-back town by the ocean, the kind of place where the locals are all legendary characters who spend their days mixing up margaritas, where the air is always warm, and where the sea is crystal clear - a real Margaritaville of the mind. There''d have to be a bar right on the beach complete with ceiling fans and cigarette smoke - a bar like the one in the movie To Have And Have Not. Hoagy Carmichael would play the piano while Lauren Bacall sang. Humphrey Bogart would be sitting alone at the end of the bar, just taking it all in. I''ve been looking for a town like that, a real Margaritaville, for years now-maybe ever since I was a kid and my grandfather explained to me that you could trace a line on a map from our home near Mobile Bay, Alabama, across the ocean and wind up at some of the most exotic places on earth. Later on I majored in history at the University of Southern Mississippi, and I became fascinated by the history of the Caribbean. By then my mental image of Margaritaville had grown more complex. I took ele- ments from books like Herman Wouk''s Don''t Stop The Carnival, which is about a New York public relations man who buys a bar on a fictitious tropical island. Then there were movies like Donovan''s Reef, and the TV series Adventures In Paradise, which really influenced me at a young age. Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville - a state of mind is It all blended together like tequila, salt, and limes: Margaritaville now a state of being. From tropical latitudes to high stake attitudes, became a combination of the romance of the ocean, the romance of his- from the Caribbean to the Carolinas, Margaritaville has embraced the tory, and my impressions of a few of the places I''d been. There''s a town mythical world defined by the insightful lyrics of singer/songwriter in Mexico, for instance, called Puerto Morales; it''s a real Mexican fish- Jimmy Buffett for over two decades. Climates and characters from ing village located about 20 miles south of Cancun. And then there''s a prose and poem create an entertaining atmosphere in a variety of place called the Rosarito Beach Hotel, 45 minutes south of San Diego, exciting locations, all designed to illustrate and illuminate the search where you can get good lobster with diablo sauce and a margarita. for the legendary lost shaker of salt. And while we’ve captured the That hotel is the closest, neatest getaway I''ve found. substance in our physical locations, the Margaritaville style remains, Back when I knew it in 1971, “anywhere you want it to be.” Key West used to be a lot like Margaritaville; it was a place Jimmy Buffett''s Margaritaville will celebrate its 20th Anniversary in designed for complete 2005. During the last two decades Margaritaville has become a fix- escapism. Around that time I ture in Key West, supporting a variety of community concerns, spon- was running from a bad mar- soring local sports at the youth and adult levels, and contributing riage and bad weather, and I money and manpower to private and public charitable organizations. had to get back to the ocean. While Margaritaville receives praise for these efforts, its guiding spir- The line in my Volcano album- its acknowledge that they''re made possible only by the unwavering "I shot six holes in the freezer, I loyalty and support of Jimmy''s fans. Their annual get together, the think I got cabin fever"- well that''s real life. I did that once: plugged my Meeting Of The Minds, brings more than 3,000 Parrot Heads to Key refrigerator. And then I thought, Jimmy, you better get yourself to the West in late October / early November. The open-minded Key West ocean, boy. community welcomes the invasion, while local blood banks and Well, I lived in Key West for three years, and mostly all I did is hang childcare centers benefit from their charity. out in the bars. Then I got a boat, and that opened up another whole avenue, just like it did for my grandfather. Most of the people I knew It would seem that Jimmy has come back to Key West; returned in in Key West years ago aren''t there anymore. But then Margaritaville is the guise of his fans - fans who have patterned their lives after the a place you have to keep looking for. lyrics in the songs inspired by the island they now treat as a Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville Mecca. WHAT IS A PARROT HEAD ? “Regarding the lifestyles of Parrot Heads, they'll have to speak for themselves. My interpretation is that they're basically pretty normal people with a slight strain of insanity in their makeup. I've never really instructed them in anything; I've just given them the lyrics. Most are non-conformists, they have a badge of Parrot Head-ism that they wear very proudly. Out of all the causes available, Parrot Head-ism seems to be one these people can affectionately embrace.” Jimmy Buffett Timothy B. Schmidt, the 70's sem- Dead followers combined with the Soon clubs from across the U.S. Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and inal bass playing icon is best known brightly festooned garb of Buffett began to communicate, trawling the Australia. They meet annually to share for his contributions to legendary fans. This would hence be referred to technological waters of the Internet, ideas, fund raising options and country rock bands Poco and the as the Parrot Head Big Bang. and wisely decided to get together. opportunities, and generally have a Eagles. But it's another ground Two decades later Dead Heads are Parrot Heads in Paradise, Inc. is a not- good time. breaking, albeit obscure, contribu- as rare as a VW van, an historical trib- for-profit corporation whose purpose Margaritaville is proud to wel- tion to rock trivia that sets Mr. ute to cheap gas and pre-MP3 pirat- is to assist in community and envi- come our fellow Parrot Heads to our Schmidt apart in our world. He is ing practitioners. Parrot Heads, on the ronmental concerns and provide a island for the 13th annual Meeting Of credited with coining the term that other hand, are firmly ingrained in all variety of social activities for people The Minds. It's time for a self-con- we proudly embrace, the term analo- levels of society; young and old, rich who are interested in the music of gratulatory pat on the back. These gous with our chosen lifestyle, the and poor, lawn section and front row. Jimmy Buffett and the tropical folks work tirelessly at the local level term that sets us apart as the symbol- They began to organize soon after lifestyle he personifies. During the in a variety of community efforts, ic chosen ones - the seekers of the Timothy B.'s casual comment; form- Calendar Year 2003 Local Chapters of giving of their time, their money, even lost shaker of salt. In 1984 while tour- ing Parrot Head Clubs in their local Parrot Heads In Paradise, Inc. their blood simply because they feel ing with Jimmy as an honorary Coral areas. Clubs that initially seemed to be Contributed Over $1.6 Million and it's the right thing to do. Reefer Timothy was amazed at the more social - in the most liberal sense 365,068 Volunteer Hours to Various Congratulations to the organizers, unabashed enthusiasm of the fans. He of the word - soon embraced a more Local and National Charities. both national and local, the partici- commented to Jimmy that the crowd community minded spirit by throw- The Parrot Head network now pating businesses, the historical tol- resembled costumed Dead Heads - ing their increasingly growing weight counts nearly 200 clubs around the erance of Key Westers, and mostly the drawing on the loyalty of Grateful behind a variety of charitable events. U.S. plus International clubs based in PHans - thanks for coming. BOOKS AND MUSIC CLASSICS NEVER DIE BOOKS Day on Vacation Mouse Pad Foam mouse pad, 7.5" x 8". #9119 $7.95 Parrot Head Prophylactic $1 from each sale donated to local KW Aids charities. #1018 $2.75 Tales From Margaritaville The classic best seller with new preface by Jimmy. Paperback #9917 $14.00 Margaritaville Mousepad Measures 7.5" x 8". #9229 $7.95 Corona Talking Opener Durable hard plastic plays "Cervesa Senor?...Oh, Yeah. Corona!" A Pirate Looks At Fifty Jimmy's narrative 50th birthday trip, served with just a hint of nostalgia. #8089 $9.95 Paperback #5556 $7.99 Shark Flashlight Keychain Push the sharks fin, the mouth opens up and lights up red. Plastic Where Is Joe Merchant? A tribute to Buffett's storytelling skills. Paperback. #1482 $7.99 shark measures approx 2" and is attached to keychain. #9880 $5.50 Oval Magnet Large JB in center, measures approx 4" x 6". #10909 $3.95 Jolly Mon Jimmy & Savannah Jane Buffett's best selling children's book based on the song. Hardback #1496 $16.00 Paperback #1494 $6.00 Lime Magnet "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade but if life gives you limes, make Margaritas" Magnet measures 2.5" x 2.5" #7777 $4.75 Trouble Dolls Our heroine enlists the help of her Guatemalan Trouble Dolls to locate her Canvas Beach Bag Parrot Fins design printed on one side.