Woke up this morning to read that Jimmy Buffett had passed away. While I was never a Parrothead, I certainly enjoyed his music. It was so easy going and so evocative of the lifestyle he had built. And he had built an empire on his albums, restaurants, hotels, and even a Florida retirement village dedicated to his lifestyle. It is so easy to find or stream his music, you should take a chance this holiday weekend to listen a bit and enjoy. One quick explanation to all you young’uns. If you ever puzzled on the lyrics to his iconic anthem “Margaritaville:”
I blew out my flip-flop
Stepped on a pop-top
Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home
But there’s booze in the blender
And soon it will render
That frozen concoction that helps me hang on.
You see, back in the day, beer and soda cans were opened by actually pulling off a “pop top” that literally came off instead of being a “stay-tab” that remained with the can. Looked often like this:
Hence, had you blown out your flip-flop, it was a real hazard to your heel, as noted in the lyrics. Always wondered about that didn’t you, young people? See the boomers did do something for you after all. You’re welcome. Godspeed on your final cruise, Jimmy Buffett.
Walter Thinnes 
Nicely put.
An experience one will not forget if it happens to them; it is the sad eventuality.
To mitigate this reoccurance, one learns to avoid stepping where a “pop top” lurks just a few grains below the surface.
This still occurs, even with the improved quality of flip flops. And, yes, even with official Margaritaville leather flip flops.
The pleasure is certainly worth the pain, though the experience maybe not appreciated at the time.
Growing up with and through the JB era, this was a right of passage.
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