I went to the social security office and changed my name to Regan Marie Parks today. This was not as scary as I thought it was going to be, especially after hearing other peoples tales of how wretched and miserable it is to change one's name.
And I'm sure some people are thinking I'm horrible for not keeping my maiden name in there somewhere, but for me that was not the right decision. Regan Weymouth Parks looked funny to me and Regan Marie Weymouth-Parks was too damn long. Plus, hypenated last names confuse me. Do people call me Mrs. Weymouth-Parks? Do my kids get a uber-long last name or are they just Parks? If I hypenate their names it doesn't sound right: Piper and Pippen Pickled Pepper Picker Weymouth-Parks. See, it just messes up the flow.
I had not one but two people insist that my legal name was Stacey Branson Spiehler, even though I know darn good and well that it's Stacey Janette Spiehler. My mother-in-law was downright scandalized by the fact. "You KEEP your maiden NAME," she barked. "I don't." I don't have much of a reason for it, I just like my middle name and wanted to keep it.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I know it sounds weird to ask this of someone who has sent you multiple gifts, but how exactly is your name pronounced? Ree-gan? Ray-gan? Reh-gan? Bueller? Bueller?
Pssh, who needs a maiden name.
ReplyDelete...except for apparently mother-in-laws.
My name varies depending on who says it. I say Megan with an R, Jason says it like that as well. Most everyone else says Ray-gen (not gen as in generation, but like the end of again, but not gain. damn, this is complicated) And Sara says Dragon.
ReplyDeleteDid any of that make sense?
I'm not sure if I've been saying your name correctly. My sister just spent a full 30 seconds trying to analyze it. Whatever, I'll call you Mrs. Parks.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I don't even correct people when they say my name wrong. Ask Pam, I think she knows how to say it. Plus my mom and I say it differently, which I know is weird, but its my name so I get to decide. I remeber being really young and thinking if Megan and Regan are spelled almost the same, why should they sound different and hence the Great Name Controversy began. And most of the time I don't say my name correctly when introducing myself to people because they usually say "Huh?" after I say it. It's too time consuming.
ReplyDeleteIt's 12:30 at night and I'm sitting here in an empty room like a dumbass trying to pronounce Megan with an R outloud.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't working. I'm glad I have the easy name... Dragon has no controversy.
Okay, I'll say it here so I actually have to do it: Tomorrow I'll record myself saying my name and post it. Then everyone can listen and this can all be cleared up.
ReplyDelete