As a young lad (and, surprisingly, still today!), I was repeatedly admonished to pay attention.

This admonishment was never harshly given to me. It was normally softly directed toward me, and meant that for your personal safety, pay attention to what’s around you. These gentle words of wisdom were offered by my parents, and those who knew what a klutz I was.

I was often told to watch out for the little things around me — not just the big things. One of those “pay attention” moments arrived on a nice summer day when I was attending a county fair. It arrived in the form of a buzzing bumble bee.

Like most young folks, I had been schooled many times to not excite a bee when it got close to me. That’s easy to say, but hard to do, right? Our usual reaction to a bee buzzing around our head is to swat at it with our hand. As I stood by the fence looking at a cattle judging event, a bumble bee seemed very interested in my head. I tried to pay attention to my schooling about bees, but my nerves took over.

I swatted at the bothersome bumble bee. Of course, it took umbrage at my offensive action and retaliated. The result was that for the next few days I had magnificently noticeably red and very sore ear. Even to this day, I recall that insect, and offer the same advice to those around me when a bee comes close. The bee is looking for food, and since you don’t have any pollen on you, try to relax and it will fly away.

Again, easy to say, but hard to do, right?

Speaking of bees, now is the time to try a delicious mead. This fine liquid is made by fermenting honey and water, and then adding some flavors to it. I don’t think I’ve tasted a mead I didn’t like. Each rendering has its own personality — just like a bumble bee. There are those in my family who have some Danish heritage so I offer this bit of mead advice.

Find a bottle of Dansk Mjod Viking Blod Mead. It might be difficult to find such a mead, but try because you’ll not be disappointed in the sweetness of the honey that melds nicely with some tastes of cloves and cinnamon. Maybe after a few sips of this wine, you’ll have more patience for that bothersome bee!

Another bit of advice I was given was to watch where you are walking. Naturally, when growing up on a farm with cattle, pigs and chickens you have a lot of … ah, animal deposits around you. The pay attention instruction was to keep your eyes scanning for such deposits so you don’t have your shoes covered with these less than appealing deposits.

For the most part, I paid attention to this teaching, but there were times when my attention was elsewhere, and of course, that is when the animal deposit appeared on my shoes. The deposit certainly got your attention, and you did your best to clean your shoes.

Not that I compare any wine to such deposits, but if you’re seeking a very nice and noticeable wine, why not try a Chilean Carménère? I’ve found that La Joya Gran Reserva is delicious. It’ll get your attention with its blackberry, fig and black pepper tastes. It’s very dry and satisfying.

Also, unlike stepping into a pile of animal deposit, it will not leave a certain smell!

Additionally, I was always told to pay attention while walking in newly planted fields. One should never walk on the freshly planted grains — that step could result in injuring the plant. So, I walked carefully while strolling the fields, and never had a surprise moment. Unlike opening a bottle of La Marca Prosecco.

As you may know, one is careful while opening a sparkling wine because the bottle’s pressure could send that cork to the ceiling. La Marca is an exciting wine. After the resounding pop of the cork popping out of the bottle, one is treated to a fizzy and crisp beverage with nice grapefruit and light minerality. Such a treat, but, pay attention! I know from personal experience that the cork has a mind of its own!

Well, maybe that’s enough of me telling you how to pay attention. Just remember that those bees, those animal deposits can give you undesirable results — pay attention!

As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!