I lost my virginity this weekend. There, I said it and I got your attention, didn't I? Let me explain. I took a trip to Margaritaville and damn it, I liked it.

Jimmy Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band appeared at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut this weekend and I had the opportunity to attend not a concert but an experience. I wasn't a big Buffett fan so I was a bit skeptical about the way Parrot Heads worship at the altar of Jimmy. Yes, America, a Jimmy Buffett Concert is a religious experience in so many ways. The venue was new to Buffet, his band and fans so everyone was a bit unsure of what to expect.

In typical Parrot Head fashion, a group of us assembled in the rear parking lot of the hotel. Up went the canopies, out came the grills. Soon grilled shrimp, steak tips, chicken and other delights were being served among the crowd. There were about 30 of us, a relatively small group, but dedicated Parrot Heads nonetheless. Buffett music roared in the background as liquor flowed freely. There were Captain Morgans and Coke; Margaritas; beer and lots of munchies. As the 5 o'clock hour approached, the Parrot Heads began disassembling the festival. Everything was neatly folded, put away and the landscape that once looked like a camp for wayward Parrot Heads was restored to its original state. After cleaning up, we assembled in front of the hotel eagerly awaiting the shuttle that would bring us to Mohegan Sun. We piled into the shuttle like sardines in a can. In the summer humidity, it wasn't a very pleasant experience but somehow nobody seemed to care. After all we were going to see Buffett.

As we entered the gates, off to the left we saw hundreds of recreational vehicles, station wagons and Parrot Heads. There they were, partying in their loud Hawaiian shirts, Buffett music blasting everywhere around. They tell me that this was a minor event compared to other venues but that didn't stop me from being overwhelmed by the devotion. As we pulled up to the entrance and carefully disembarked, Buffett fans screamed in approval at the new arrivals. Practically everybody was feeling no pain. I've been to other events where the crowd was rip roaring drunk and I shuddered at the thought of the potential disaster that lay ahead. Boy was I wrong. Drunken Parrot Heads are the most peaceful bunch of people I have ever seen. It's not about getting drunk for drunk's sake, it's about having a party and celebrating life.