What’s in a name? Quite a lot, it turns out.
Last week, I wrote my first opinion piece for The Flin Flon Reminder, “What’s in a name?“. I looked at the concept of changing one’s name after marriage, and my own struggles with what to do now that I am (just) married. I enjoyed writing (and rewriting, and rewriting, and rewriting) this piece, and I was nervous about putting something so personal out there in the local newspaper. After it was published last Friday, I decided to push myself a little further, and post the article on my Facebook page.
I am so glad I did.
After the article was published, a number of friends and acquaintances, and even a few strangers, contacted me about the piece, via Facebook, email, and in person. Some told me they enjoyed reading it; many shared their own experiences with changing their name (or not). It has been encouraging to me as a writer to know that someone out there is listening (reading) and connecting with something that I put my heart into. So many other women (and men) are thinking about this issue and struggling with how to interpret a tradition in a way that feels right personally. While I still don’t have a solution that I have made my peace with, it is good to know that I have plenty of company in that regard.
libby stoker- lavelle 