The Taste-Test Ritual: Freedom and Me

Every meal with Freedom starts the same way:

I taste it first.

Nah, yeah, really. A fully grown man takes a little bite of her tuna or salmon wet food before she ever touches it.

Some might call it crazy, but to me, it’s about trust, care, and yes…

a little ritual.

Safe for me Safe for Thee.

“I’ve Checked It. You’re All Good.”

Freedom and I have a bond. She watches me, always alert, maybe a little discerning, but she trusts me. That’s why I always taste her food first, right in front of her. It’s my wordless way of telling her,

‘I’ve checked it. It’s safe. You’re all good.’

It’s less about me getting a bite and more of an expected ritual, a small duty just to reassure her. It’s a simple act, but one that comforts us both. I get a tiny taste, she digs into her meal, and in that daily exchange, our connection grows a little stronger.

Jesters Taste the Meal First

I have seen her even cock her head to the side, as if thinking, “My DNA does not compute to this other (6’3 200+ pound) cat eating food to test. He’s the king; aren’t the jesters supposed to taste the meal first?”

It’s not about me being wild or weird (okay, maybe a little).

It’s about mindfulness. I notice the textures, the aromas, and the freshness, and I know she’ll notice too. She stares, jumpscares, and digs in with the confidence that comes from knowing I’ve “approved” it.

And me? I get a chuckle every time I think, “I actually ate cat food today.” I have eaten the strangest of of foods, I’ve eaten surströmming because I want to celebrate my heritage. Ostrich, because I was?

That rite of passage thing.

It’s Love Expressed in Bites

Some might read this and think, “Is he crazy, or is this the right thing?”

Honestly, I don’t care. For Freedom, it’s right. It’s love expressed in bites, in jumpscares, in quiet trust. And if a little human tasting (empathy) makes her confident and happy, then yes… It’s precisely the right thing.

Now for the kicker, what has my cat taught me?

My Cat Taught Me About the Constitution

And just like I take that little bite first for my cat, Freedom, in life we need systems we can trust to protect us before we dive in headfirst.

The U.S. Constitution is that “taste-test” for our democracy; i.e., a carefully crafted safeguard that ensures our freedoms and rights are protected.

Don’t Skip the Safety Check

Ignoring it, or letting blowhards like politicians in power trample the rules, is like skipping the safety check and hoping for the best.

Trust, care, and mindfulness matter. Words matter, whether it’s approving a cat’s meal or defending the framework that keeps a nation (us ALL) safe.

-Mark

P.S. My cat’s name is Freedom and she is a true patriot.