Thought for Food

Mar 31, 2009

Nora [your name here]

Until relatively recently, there was no way in hell I’d change my name for a man/marriage. My birth-mother didn’t and neither did my adopted mother.* But then it started to creep into my thoughts: maybe I wouldn’t mind taking a man’s name as a romantic gesture, as a pledge of allegiance, as a step toward the oneness of our future family.

To be honest, part of this is the influence of Michelle Obama. She’s got a strong traditionalist streak along side the drive to succeed on her own terms, and so do I. (And I swear this has nothing to do with my current lover’s name, but if the name is interesting enough, like Obama, I’d be more inclined to tack it on my own.)

After all, what is my surname but a man’s name? Sure, it’s mine, but I’ve shed skins before.

* Their names are Shelley and Mark Sherman, true, but both were born that way. We can always recognize the telemarketer when they ask for “Mrs. Sherman.”

Comments (View) | 3 notes