I rarely feel any connection to a celebrity. I'm not a good actor. I suck at singing. I am not a 6'8", 265-pound block of granite that runs like a gazelle. Entertainers mostly do just that for me...they entertain me. Musicians, actors, and pro athletes gave me a break from the normal, hectic life loaded with small tasks and big jobs to do; they get to count their millions, I go back to being a glorified chauffeur. The end of last week, however, made me feel something very different, and I didn't see it coming.

When I woke up Friday morning to read about Anthony Bourdain's passing, I felt sick. I felt like I had a large piece of me taken away. You see, his written works and TV programs were a big part of the life The Greatest Wife In The World and I had built together; we have known each other since the early stages of his emerging popularity and we were drawn to him. He made us care about taking away our limits and fears about global food and culture, all while holding up a huge middle finger to those who dismissed it. While there were some episodes showing Bourdain in comfortable scenes in Tuscany, on the beaches of Miami, or sipping coffee in Paris, he took more daring and daunting trips to places like sub-zero Iceland. He flipped an ATV onto himself while exploring the dunes in New Zealand. He and his crew had to flee a sudden outbreak of war in Beirut while filming an episode. Bourdain did this with no fear, all in the name of immersing himself in various cultures to come out of it with a better understanding of the world and sharing that understanding with his TV viewers. He survived all of that...yet couldn't survive whatever it was that haunted him.

I would like you to do me a favor. The next time you go shopping for a bottle of wine, go for something new. Get to know a new grape. You like Pinot Grigio? Try Arneis or Albarino. Love that jammy California Pinot Noir? Give Gamay or Dolcetto a shot. Give yourself the chance to learn about wines from the country of Georgia or Uruguay...you have a ton of information at your fingertips simply by doing a Google search. Don't understand the words on a German wine label? Ask your friendly wine shop owner for clarification. This works for spirits, too. Loving that Kentucky Bourbon? Try whiskey from Texas, Colorado, or Alabama. Getting bored with vodka? Seek out a craft gin or white rum. Big rum fan? Get to know cachaça. Do it without fear. You and I really have no excuse when it comes to exploring our own tastes.

Look...you don't have to walk the dangerous Batu caves of Malaysia or eat the anus of a Namibian warthog to fulfill a sense of adventure (unless you want to, and major kudos to you if you do). Traveling isn't easy as it takes planning, time, and money to make it happen. However, I have long told many people I meet at various beverage events that a great way to gain an appreciation for a culture is to try their food and drink, and you can do that from your own kitchen or wine cellar.

If all else fails and you don't know what to do or where to turn to, or perhaps you really want to know, "will I like this?" you know where to find me. Booze, food, sports, music, life, whatever it is that's on your mind...we can talk. I am not here to judge you. We can explore it all without fear.

NOTE: if you are a fan of Anthony Bourdain's work or want to discover him for the first time, read his books. They are awesome.