Sunday, August 24, 2008

Delayed Reaction

I just signed my new name on my new social security card and my voter registration card, and I think for the first time, I realized that my name is changed. I am now officially MFB (even the government knows now), and don't ever get to be MFN again. And even though I never liked my maiden name, am in no way attached to my father or his side of the family, and am thrilled to be married to and sharing a name with Preston, after I gave my new signature this morning, I sort of had a "Holy Shit" moment. This marriage thing. It's for real. And this name change thing. You know those days when I sat in line at Social Security and the DMV? Those made the name change for real too.

On this subject, all you married ladies, how do you feel about getting mail addressed to Mrs. Your Husband's Name? Because I'm not sure how I feel about it. My very conservative Southern grandmother keeps sending me mail addressed to Mrs. Preston B, and I have to say, I don't think I like it. I know that it's the Emily Post way, but being addressed as Mrs. Preston makes me feel, at best, like I'm Preston's trusty sidekick, and at worst, like I'm a sub-part of him. Mrs. Mary Frances B--no problem. So maybe it's just because I'm vain and like to see my name. This is a real possibility. But I think there's something more there.

OK off to walk Callie (speaking of whom, Preston and I made the executive decision to purchase The Furminator last night....and I'm almost as excited about it as I am about Trader Joe's Very Mini Vanilla Meringues. This should give you a clear indication about how exciting our life is). Happy Sunday!

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3 comments:

  1. KayeAugust 24, 2008 at 11:24 AM

    Hi MF,

    It is just a Southern thing, as long as grandma occassionally sends a check to Mrs. Preston, just accept it! We now live in GA and the children here are taught to call you, "Miss Kaye" instead of Kaye or Mrs. W... We have lived here 6 years and it still drives me batty! I haven't been Miss for 28 years! Have a great school year.

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  2. Mary FrancesAugust 24, 2008 at 11:58 AM

    Thanks for the comment, Kaye! And I know you're right--my grandmother's traditional, and even though my grandfather died 2 years ago, she still loves being addressed as Mrs. Hugh. A different generation and a different location can change a lot.

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  3. QuirkyAugust 26, 2008 at 12:11 AM

    The most difficult thing for me, is that my first and last name were a total pair. When I would see people it was always, "Sally Suemaker!!" (I don't know where I came up with that psuedoname, but you get the idea :) I was NEVER referred to simply as Sally.

    After a year, I thought I had fully adjusted to being Mrs. V. The people who call me that either a) know my maiden name and still occasionally refer to me by it; b) know my first name and when I hear the two together it flows; or c) they are random business people who don't really concern me.

    But now that I've started teaching, I have people who have never known me as ANYTHING BUT Mrs. V. -- no first name or anything-- it is definitely odd.

    I love my married name, and I was unbelievably eager to adopt it. I guess time is the only thing that will fully enable us to adjust :)

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