Is she kidding???

[susandennis]

Our office manager sent out an email saying she was getting ready to order business cards and we should check our stash and let her know if we needed more. One of the sales reps sent her a note saying she was changing her name back to her maiden name and would like new cards.

Her last name is now Smith. In her note she said that she will be changing this to Oligschlaeger.

Susan (the office manager who is also know as Susan The First since she was here first) sent to me because she thought it was hilarious that this woman - who pretty much has no sense of humor - is making such a funny joke.

Honestly, I don't think she's kidding. I think she really is going go from Smith to Oligschlaeger. On purpose and by choice.

I was born Susan Karolene Schubert. I never lived anywhere where anyone got it right the first time. In the south they always thought it was Shufford or Shumpert. In the north they thought it was Shubert like the theater. So when I married Bob Dennis, scarfing up his last name was (unfortunately) top on the list of reasons to get married (no, I did not think it through at all). I dumped my middle name and have been known to the world for the last 25 years as Susan Dennis.

When I got divorced, I briefly pondered changing my name again. Never did I consider going back to Schubert. But I did give thought to picking a new name. As it turns out Susan Dennis isn't all that easy a name anyway... Sandy Dennis, Sandy Duncan... Maybe it's me?!

In 1980 the laws were lax and all you had to do to change your name legally (in most states) was just start using the one you wanted. All you needed to get a drivers license in your new name was one utility bill addressed to you in your new name. A copy of the drivers license changed the name for social security, etc. Those were the days.

But, even so, changing my name when I got married was a pain in the ass and I figured there were enough Mrs. Bob Dennis' (I was #2 and I think there were at least 4) - I could get lost in the crowd.

But, I could have been Susan Morgan, Susan Richard, Susan Kelly, Susan Perry... Oddly enough, I never once considered Susan Oligschlaeger.