When I was about 7 or 8 years old I asked my mother if I had to change my last if I got married, because if I did I would never get married.  She assured me that I could keep my name forever if I wanted or could change it to anything else I pleased, not necessarily the name of someone I married.  I was satisfied and relieved.  I loved my name then and now.  I married my partner of 13 years, 3 years ago and needless to say I did not change my name.  However, some of my friends and family began introducing me and addressing mail to us by my husband’s last name even though I told everyone we were not changing our names.  I try not to let it make me angry….however try as I do, it does make me angry when mine and his preference is disregarded. 

Am I alone here?  Has anyone else out there had friends and family who insist on disregarding their choice to keep their own name?  One thing that makes me angriest is getting personal letters, invitations, etc.  addressed to Mr. and Mrs. His Name…..even my first name has been dropped. 

 

 

Paul, Paul, how I will miss you. From about the age of 8 or 9 he was my favorite movie star, by age 13 he was the love of my life, as I got older, he still held those designations but I added: great actor, admired political activist, philanthropist, family man and wonderful husband to Joanne. I hardly ever remember him speaking about her without praising her talent as an actress and speaking in admiring words about her as an accomplished woman; it was clear that he adored her and was secure enough to give her the spotlight. What a great loss. What a great and beautiful man both physically and spiritually. He leaves a wonderful legacy to the world, his art, his joy of life, the wonderful and generous gift of his philanthropy……….how he will be missed.

If Obama’s attention span remains as short as it has been up to now, Joe Biden will definitly be an asset to him. Biden is someone he can use as an example of true dedication to public service. Over 30 years in the Senate, in the trenches, committed to service even as a 29 year old man who’d just lost his wife and child. Obama could use a good role model. He’s been in the Senate for 4 years and running for the White House for almost half that time! At least if he becomes bored with the presidency as quickly as he has everything else he’s done, Joe Biden will be there to run things reliably and with experience. Let’s just hope they can pull out a win in November. GO JOE!!!

The most important to do first is nothing. Don’t do anything until you can get in control of your emotions. Then get your ducks in a row, give him enough rope to hang himself and when he least expects it Lower the Boom!

What a boost it was to see the piece on Ann Richards. These dark days in the dark ages of the Bush Regime make it seem like there never was anybody on the political scene with any sense or any personality. My Lord she’s missed, Molly, too. I’m glad so many women saw you all on Charlie Rose and have visited your site and what a great welcoming subject. Ann was an inspiration to us all. I’ll bet she’d have had some great things to contribute to WoWoWow! I just can’t go a day without this wonderful website.

Christina, yes, the papers here always state the age of the person right off the bat and I find that so distracting and unneccesary! The rest of the story is colored by one’s thoughts of the person’s age: “Wow, I’d have never guessed he/she was that old”, instead of “Wow, what a wonderful/dreadful person and what a great/horrible thing they’ve done”. If the press absolutely MUST broadcast ages why not do it at the end of the news piece so we can focus on the important part. If we focused more on people’s acheivements or needs or opinions or ideas instead of the age we might learn something. d

I love South Pacific! It was the first play I ever saw and to quote a lyric, “I can’t get it out of my heart, not this heart”! A touring company did a production of it in Hobbs, New Mexico, a small town 20 miles away from my even smaller hometown. I was probably about 4 or 5 years old. I can still remember sitting there with Mama and Daddy watching this wonderful thing happening on stage. I believed we were watching real people! I also love The King and I. Yul Brynner!!! I saw him in his 4001st performance of the King at the Pantages theatre in L.A. Wonderful. And who can resist “My Fair Lady”? My mother took me to see the movie and I cried and cried when Eliza sang “I Could Have Danced All Night”. I used to do that scene next to my swing set in the backyard; that swingset was also an important set piece in my “production” of The Wizard of Oz. I’d set my little dog on the seat of the seesaw and sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. I brought myself to tears everytime! The brilliant lyrics to these wonderful old musicals are unforgettable. When my little Jack Russell Terrior fixes me with a demanding stare I always say, “Just you wait Henry Higgins”. She’s every bit as imperious as Professor Higgins and just as irresistable, I expect her to reply, “Where are my slippers?”.

In response to Judith Martin: My parents did divorce when I was 17 and although their marriage did not survive they never expected me to choose sides. My mother has often said she would hate for me to think she’d been irresponsible enough to have a child with someone she’d ever expect me to dislike or disrespect. I am an only child and my memories as a child as well as now are that my parents were my favorite people in the world. They still are. I have been equally influenced by my mother and father, probably the greatest gift they both passed on to me was a strong and sure sense of who I am. I thank God everyday that I still have them both.

Well didn’t Al Gore have his chance in 2000 and make the brilliant decision not to use Bill Clinton as the most powerful campaign tool imaginable?!? Yes, he was robbed, but if he’d used some political sense it never would have been close enough to lose! Now the 90’s are considered passe. Too bad the good times are so soon forgotten. I love what Hillary asks: What didn’t you like about the 90’s the Peace or the Prosperity? We need a woman in the White House and who could do us better than Hillary, she’s taken every hit the GOP could deal her for years and she’s still here. And in this primary campaign she’s taken every hit the MEDIA could deal her. Obama glides through every storm and doesn’t even get his feet wet! My metaphors are becoming mixed up, but my mind is clear on one thing: Al Gore had his chance and blew it; now women let’s get behind Hillary and let her show ‘em how to clean up the messes men make!