The Name Change

 After getting married, one of the things the woman is expected to do (by SOCIETY!) is change her name.  Growing up, I had a...let's call it 'unique' last name, and I couldn't wait to be rid of it.  Except when it actually came time for me to make that decision (while filling out the marriage license forms a month before the ceremony), I was having a hard time shedding my former identity.

A 'unique' name is a sort of badge of honor.  You've made it through years of teasing from peers as well as well intentioned, but very, very dorky adults, who find themselves to be clever!  Witty!  The first person to ever think of that lamesauce joke!

Taking all that into consideration, combined with the fact that I am a feminist of sorts, I decided to hyphenate.  So instead of being Ms. Sexypants, I am now Mrs. Sexypants-Longsufferingman.  In theory.  Because who is a slacker who kept putting off the old name change?

Yeah.  That would be me.  I had the best of intentions, I really did.  But we got married right before the holidays hit.  And then, we did our taxes, and I didn't want to rock the boat by changing my name mid tax process.  Then I stubbed my toe and went for ice cream.  You get the idea.

So this morning, armed with my marriage certificate, my old SS card, my application for a new SS card, a book, my smartphone, and my smart mouth, I went to rock out at the Social Security office.  I got there half an hour before it opened, and smugly celebrated my spot as 54th person in line.  I am not even kidding. 

As we all shuffled in, an armed guard shouted that we ALL HAD TO CHECK IN AT THE COMPUTER!  AND GET IN LINE!  AND STAY IN LINE!  NO EXCUSES!  Checking in at the computer was an involved process, as you had to first press the button for english, then press a corresponding button that more or less summed up what you needed.

Then you're to SIT DOWN AND TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE, DUMMY!  in a dimly lit seating area, where nice people sit way too close and cough all over you.  A little old lady will complain that people are using their phones.  The gentleman behind you falls asleep,  and it soon becomes apparent that he has some pretty gnarly sleep apnea.  You start to meditate to the sound of his breathing:  iiiiiiiin,   oooouuuuuuttttt.  Iiiiiiiiiiiiin, and ooooooooouuuuuuttttt.   IIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.....your eyes pop open.  Why isn't he breathing out yet?  What is even happening?  Do humans have that lung capacity?  Then, 'PPPPPPPPPPPPAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"  he screams in your right ear, effectively breathing out. 

                                                    An exact replica of how startled I was.


The little old lady next to you has her number called.  She doesn't budge.  They call her again.  She asks you what her number is.  It takes four people shouting loudly before she'll go to her window.  Her husband blames the damn navy.  Hear, hear!

                                                            OR ARE THEY???????

On the TV screen in front of you is George Takei, acting out this scene with Patty Duke (while both are dressed in Star Trek Fleet uniforms and standing on the bridge of the Enterprise, like y'do):

Patty Duke:  George Takei, have you ever navigated an asteroid belt?
George Takei:  Why yes, Patty Duke.  I HAVE navigated an asteroid belt!
Patty Duke:  Why, George Takei, did you KNOW that NAVIGATING the SOCIAL security WEBSITE is MUCH simpler THAN navigating AN asteroid BELT????!!!!
George Takei:  OH, MYYYYYY!

*Awkward senior citizen thumbs up at the screen*

                                               I can't make this up.

"GLAAAAWHHHHHHHHHHHHSSNNNNNNNNNXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX,"  combusts Darth Apnea behind you, only this time in your left ear (to keep you on your toes.)

They call the number after yours.  You contemplate getting up to complain, but the armed guard shakes his head at you and pats his gun when you start to stand up.  You focus back on the screen, where a clownfish is swimming around with a social security card...and IT DOES NOT BELONG TO HIM!  ALWAYS KEEP YOUR CARD WITH YOU, OR AN EVIL CLOWNFISH WILL STEAL IT AND MAKE MANY AMAZON PURCHASES!

                                                        "50 Shades of Grey, anyone?"

"SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" screeches Sir Apnea of C-PAP behind you.

I finally get to go to the window.  I hand over all my documents and my ID, and stand silently for 15 minutes while Johnny Typesitall tippety taps away.  They hand you a piece of paper explaining that you'll be receiving your new card in the mail in around two weeks.

EXCEPT IF A CLOWNFISH OR GEORGE TAKEI AND PATTY DUKE GET A HOLD OF IT FIRST, AND BOLDY GO TO MEXICO! 

 

It's just, what does a fish even need a car for?  Thanks for ruining my credit, jackass.

                                                                       Oh, my!

Sigh.

There's always a fallout, isn't there?

Let's back up.

I had an amazing Saturday.  I took the blue line into downtown Los Angeles with my mom and my aunt, and we only got lost once (although it was in Compton.)  We held our signs high and proud, took pictures with other protesters.  The atmosphere was positive, and there was a sense of solidarity.  Everyone was respectful of one another.  We marched around Pershing Square with a police escort, twice, and came back to listen to some amazing people (Sarah Silverman, Zack Galifianakis, feminist poets, etc.) do their thing onstage.  We dined at the Steel City Food Truck (Pierogis FTW!)

I expected that my sign would get some attention.  I didn't expect that an extremely unflattering picture of me holding the sign would then become blog fodder for conservatives, where the comments ranged from "Feminists are ugly" to "Stoopid Wimmin."

Serious sentiments.

I didn't expect to become "The Sandwich Creature."
I didn't expect for people to directly attack me.  I'm sure that awfulness will be on quickmeme before too long.

And I'll admit, it hurt.  And I cried.  I called my mom, I called my best friend, I called my husband.

Ultimately, it was a choice I made.  I stood up for something I believed in.  I carried a sign to show my support.  I marched.  And by putting myself out there publicly, I got some backlash.

Life goes on.  Yes, I considered never doing anything like that again.  But how chickenshit is that?  If you believe in something, stand up for it!

Trolls are evil.  One shouldn't feed them.  And in a week, I hope they have some new material.

Because fat girl sandwich jokes are a dime a dozen.  In fact, I think I could have written them better myself.

I am still so, so proud to have marched in a protest that I believe in alongside my wonderful aunt and mom.  That is an experience I wouldn't trade for the world.