Earlier today on FB, Hanne Andersen linked a 2009 Motherhood Deleted post, The Myth of the Triad. In that entry, blogger Robin Westbrook (one of favorite bloggers, btw), linked to one of my first pieces on the triad myth–a copy of my presentation at the oxymoronical 2006 Ethics in Adoption Conference in Arlington, Virginia where adoptees and moms suffered through bastard moments and shut-up Q & A sessions.
Re-reading my short presentation got me thinking about the pretty shapes-of -adoption deformers like to toss about at hearings while they’re being polite obedient children asking for a cookie.
ADOPTION: CIRCLE, TRIANGLE, PENTAGON, CONSTELLATION
What next? Decagon?
So I did a Google search on geometric figures to see if there is anything that actually fits adoption and the complicated and secret relationships it invents.
I like Adoption Trapezoid, with its scary implications, but it’s just a four-sided “triangle.”
The Cone of Shame is tempting.
Personally, I favor the Metatron’s Cube model, but it’s something only adoption nerds can enjoy, and impractical and irrelevant to politicians and frumpy bureaucrats who hold the key to the locked cabinets. WARNING: : For internal use only!
But think about it. A big horizontal plank with two little planks nailed to either side to make the big plank look good. It’s also handy for deformers to crawl up on when they inadvertently speak out of turn or exhibit slight ingratitude when an authority figure takes a few minutes away from counting her boodle or yabbering in his prayer closet, to give them an audience. Of course, when suitably repentant our summer soldiers can crawl back down, cleansed of identity bewilderment and youthful sexcapades,. happy to have had a place to heal their primal wounds.
The cross has the added benefit of camouflaging our activity, since we all know that God–the christian god that is– invented adoption, but sometimes gets distracted by the Republican Party and puts baybees in the wrong tummies. Thank God’s helpers, the Adoption Industry for tidying up that mess!
If you’re unhappy with the cross (and I understand why!) there’s always the garbage can.
Can = State
Lid = Adoption Industry
Tossed, chewed, undigestible, and rotten. = The Rest of Us
Thanks: Hanne, Robin
Your mention of the cross reminds me of the Sculpture, ‘In the Name of God’, by Jens Galschiøt on display in front of the Cathedral in Copenhagen. I think that the cross serves nicely, and is representative of so many of the issues for the mothers and their infants.
Good post, Marley. Welcome back. Your views are always interesting and I find that i agree more often than not.
BTW, Robin is one of MY favorite bloggers, too, as well as my very dear friend. She does have a way to turn a phrase, does she not?
My only comment is that this is the most fun post I’ve seen in weeks! and I’m feeling pretty sick so hving a laugh is a good thing!
stay well…
Get real, Bastardette. Everyone knows the shape of adoption is a dollar sign.
Thanks for your comments. It’s good to be back. I simply had a epiphany today after reading Robin’s old blog.
@Mz Kidnap: How did I miss that?
BTW, I keep hearing that Occupy Whatever protesters are going paid to protest. I wish somebody would hire me to walk around with a sign. I’ve always done Freebies. But then as Bill Pierce claimed, Bastard Nation bought the Oregon eleciton.