What's In A Name?

In the midst of unpacking and doing laundry from our honeymoon, organizing and putting away our wedding gifts, writing and co-signing hundreds of thank-you notes, traveling to and from LA for work, hosting houseguests 2 weekends running, re-decorating our bedroom with new curtains and comforter, and posting photos and making albums of the wedding, I had to buy a $4 money order.

This should not be a big deal, but for some reason, buying a money order is about as convenient as buying a house. It took me a total of 3 weeks to a) find out from the marriage license office (who referred me to the probate court's office) what the process was for getting my certified copy of our marriage "abstract"; b) fill out the required form, which I carried around in my purse for days; c) buy said money order; d) self-address a stamped envelope for the paperwork, and drop it in the mail.

So, finally, yesterday I received two thin green slips of paper with the raised seal of the Franklin County Probate Court that say, according to the Ohio Department of Health Vital Statistics, that Steven Walter Post and Martha Marie Bledsoe are in fact married. This little piece of paper allows me to start the legal name-change process. I feel compelled to tell you, though, that when I marched into the bank yesterday with my hard-won little green paper, they never even asked to see it as they changed my name to Martha Post on all my accounts. So much for process!

All of this got me thinking about what's in a name. It does seem (as much as I am complaining about it) that changing a name is a grave undertaking that should require many steps. I mean, a name change represents  a new identity, and new identities shouldn't just be lying around for people to assume, despite the bank's cavalier attitude.

And so, dear reader, as I have been giving the name-change issue much thought over these last weeks, I have decided that it is time to re-name Becoming Left-Handed. It seems fitting that my little blog should change its name at the same time I do!

In the one year and five days that I have been writing here, I have realized how vital writing is for me. It is just as important as breathing, perhaps more so. The days I don't blog feel somehow short of oxygen and my lungs feel rather cramped.

You might be thinking that I want to expand my blog beyond "what it's like to be engaged." and write about what it's like to be married. And that's true. But I also want a place where I can write about what it's like to have a love-hate relationship with your job, or what it's like to have your brand-new car in the shop for 9 days out of the month, or what it's like to drive through a writers' picket line in LA in the midst of realizing how much you love writing!

These are the stories I want to share with you. And eventually I hope these stories become a springboard for larger writing dreams, like a freelance career and a couple of books.

In the meantime, I need your help.  What should I call this new blog?

Here are a few of the suggestions I've heard from family and friends. Would you care to post a comment and vote for your favorite, or suggest another option?

Being Left-Handed
Becoming Write-Handed
The Daily Post
Posthaste
Post-Script

What do you think?

Comments

[Marti]

A few name suggestions from Mr. Post:

PosterBoard
Post's Posts
aMusing
Marti's Musings
Making Things Write
Writing Wrongs

[Tonia]

Hi dear,

Personally, I like Becoming Write-Handed, or possibly Marti's Post-it Notes.

Best of all, is that you will continue your beloved power of the pen.....good job! Oh, that brings up PostPower or PowerPost of the Pen, geez, the possibilities are endless.

love you,
Mom

[Jean Wales]

Marti: I like Becoming Write Handed, too. I bet you will find when you go to the Driver's License Bureau and Social Security that you will have to go through more red-tape to get your name changed than you did at your bank where you are known. This is a good time to up date your Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care with your new name, for you and Steve to have wills written and also Powers of Attorney giving each other the ability to handle money in individual bank accounts, get license plates renewed, etc. It is never too soon to have all these legal documents squared away. (Sorry, I can't help giving this advice to everyone I know because I know, based on so many true life stories, how important it is to have taken care of these details.

Love you both,
Aunt Jean

[Gail/Mom]

Certainly, I hope you NEVER give up the blog. It is the connection that has allowed me to get to know you and allow the love I feel for you to continue to grow.
I personally like "Becoming Write-Handed" too. I also like "Being Write-Handed". Whatever you decide, I'm glad you are continuing such a wonderful enrichment for all of us.
Love, Momma Gail

[Frank_DiMeo]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

I'm glad to see you will continue too Marti. You always put a smile on my face.

I like Steve's Making Things Write.

I also like

In This Life
Rainy Day Sunshine
Write side/Left side
Write or Wrong
Follow Me
Get It
Is it in You
In and Out, What We Are About
Loving/Learning/Sharing
Marti's Post

I have a lot of photos to get back to...
LOL,
-Frank