November 10, 2006
My best friend, Becky, had come out to visit me at “Crybaby Ranch” (my home in the country) early in January 2006. We’ve been friends for over 20 years, becoming especially close 15 years ago during the divorce “Survivor” series when both of our husbands made other choices — drugs and other women.
We kept our former husbands’ last names at the time of the divorces for “business reasons” although I suspect it was another way to hang on to who we had been for more than 10 years and who we still thought we were. It also saved us the trouble of figuring out who we were expected to be now.
I suggested to Becky that it was time she drop her ex-husband’s name. It had been 15 years and she had become very successful. She could go by “Cher” at this point in her career. She immediately pointed out that I could do the same thing having left the big city to get back to my family country roots.
Hmmm. It was something to think about. Watkins had served me well for years. I had grown into myself during that time of life and I believed Watkins truly fit me, with or without the Mr. Watkins.
Had things changed? They sure had. Gradually over the two years since I had moved back to the farm, I continued to introduce and re-establish myself as “Lee’s sister” and “Bob’s daughter.” Indeed, I HAD become very comfortable being Patti Broyles again and the Watkins could now be appropriately archived. Huge step forward!
Okay, but how to do this?
I went online to get help with the procedure. Wow! It appeared from the number of businesses listed that everyone in the world was changing their names. Thoroughly confused, I went to the county clerk’s office and asked someone if I could do this myself or did I need legal counsel. The clerk showed me sample files so I could make a semi-intelligent decision. I decided this was something I could do alone and be a better person for the experience (not to mention save some money.) I felt empowered.
I laughed out loud at the language in the sample she gave me, and copied it almost word for word:
“Petitioner desires and seeks to have her named changed for the following reasons, to-wit: That the last name of the petitioner is by virtue of a marriage which resulted in divorce. Petitioner could have had her maiden name restored during the divorce proceeding but did not and now wishes that she had. She also has never cared for her middle name, Lynne, and wishes her middle name to be replaced by the initial "L."
That got me thinking: I’ve never been that fond of MY middle name or my first for that matter. Why not go ahead and change my first name to Madelyn or Natalie? The options were endless. I mulled this over for several weeks, shocking friends and family members, before deciding to come back into the world with the same name I came in with.
The process takes several weeks and about $200 but I was only in court for four minutes. I dressed in a stylish black suit for the monumental occasion (in case anyone was taking photographs) but there was very little discussion and no raised eyebrow by the kind judge.
As I walked out, I felt weird. Weird and almost shy but lighter. I was smiling like I had a secret. I was back on track to being me and it was all good.
Comments
mpardo62 (anonymous) says...
Wish to find out if you were in the Air Force. If so email me and I can explain. Email me at mpardo62@yahoo.com
May 25, 2007 at 8:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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