Hello July, so nice to see you again. Fine, juicy weather we’ve been having…scattered showers with a sprinkling of sunshine…can’t complain.
My Mom would have been turning 70 this month, had she lived to see the day. Heart disease got the better of her back in 2014, raise her soul.
Moon Man’s birthday is fast approaching too. What am I going to do with him?! That is the question. He is turning 33, which my Mom always referred to as ‘the crucifying age’.
Crucifying for some! As a single working mother of 6 back when, my Mom certainly didn’t have it easy.
Moon Man is not having it easy at the moment in his quest to find accommodation in Dublin. The rental situation here is beyond dire. It’s like a really bad joke. In the worst possible taste.
A week has passed, including Mom’s 70th birthday. The weather is simply perfect, a balmy 21 degrees. Moon Man is still house hunting, staying on his friends’ couch. It’s a one bed apartment in the City Centre with 6 sharing the bedroom, male & female. And Moon Man on the couch in the living room. You couldn’t make it up. Welcome to Dublin.
If Moon Man can’t find a place to live, maybe I can. While enjoying the spectacular Howth cliff walk in the sunshine yesterday, one of my companions suggested it was time I move out of my residence at the Granby Centre. He could be right. He lived in the Granby for a spell 10 years ago before landing his own duplex courtesy of Hail Housing, a mental health housing organization. He recommended I contact them.
Fast forward to Art Therapy with Bairbre this afternoon. Have you heard of ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs’? Bairbre was wondering. Indeed I had. She had a cognitive behavioral exercise lined up for me, based on the findings of Maslow, if I was up for it. Sure I was…
Bairbre instructed me to draw 2 dividing lines on my page creating 4 squares. Then she told me what to draw in each square: a heart, a path, a building & a plant. I followed her instructions, enjoying the mindfulness of drawing & the fruits of my efforts.
Analyze this. And that’s what we did. Turns out the building I drew was to represent my most basic needs. I had drawn a cute little dwelling, reminiscent, I thought, of the style of Gaudí & sporting bars on the windows, added as an afterthought. Bairbre informed me that it was a fine building, showing my basic needs are well met.
The heart I had drawn was next for analysis, moving up the hierarchy of needs, representing my belonging & love needs. I decorated it completely with contrasting patterns. All it was lacking was a touch of colour. If I had been painting, it would have been very colorful. Evidently my belonging & love needs are well fulfilled.
I had, drawn what I described as “a gently meandering path” which I was then told represented the next level of Maslow’s hierarchy, my self-esteem needs…gently meandering perhaps.
Lastly we discussed my drawing of a plant, which Bairbre revealed to represent my self-actualization needs. Since I hadn’t applied any detail or shading to its leaves, I declared that it was lacking in chlorophyll & needing sunlight. What am I lacking, Bairbre was wondering.
Sex! My prompt response. With no visitors allowed in my humble abode & Moon Man reduced to couch surfing, just where the fuck are we supposed to fuck? I can’t say it’s not happening, it’s just not happening enough.
Bairbre & I then contemplated the prospect of Moon Man & I pitching a tent for the night on a north Dublin beach for a night of satisfaction. Desperate measures for desperate times perhaps……
Still, I remain sane. Perfectly sane. I know exactly what I’m saying. Thanks be to Jesus!
Faith In The Ripple Effect 