sunken garden

There’s less energy and time required when you opt to keep your maiden name.

It was wishful thinking to think that my I’m done and over with name changes.  Travel, and name changes doesn’t really blend well together especially when you’re transitioning from maiden name to married name.   My travel documents are still in my maiden name while my green card is in my married name.   So when my husband books our flight to Germany under my maiden name, (you guess it right!) there’s bound to be some conflict.   So now I need to amend my passport, my mileage card while applying for a visa (under my old or new name, who knows?)   

Once, when I travelled under my maiden name but when asked for an ID I was unable to produce an ID that was still in my maiden name.  I had to step aside and go though extra security measures.  Meaning:  taking of my shoes wasn’t enough,  I had to empty my bag unceremoniously and I was “searched.”  Because, this is America, a female security officer methodically run her hands through my body searching for items that will link me to a terrorist group.  Pretty hysterical.

Almost 1.5 years after getting married, I still hesitate when asked to write my middle name.  In the Philippines, your middle name is your maiden family name whereas in the US, it’s your “second name” (Michelle, in my case).   I’m sure, I’ve used both one time or the other and that is bound to hunt me down for “Name Change, Part 3″