As I told Emily on the phone earlier tonight, this isn't "goodbye". It's more like "See ya later!"
See ya later.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Goodbye, Internet!
My boxes are almost nearly packed away, my US Army backpack has everything on my packing list (okay, I admit I brought way more pairs of underwear than they said I could, but Renee told me to!), and I'm pretty much ready to go. I'll go to the recruiter's office tomorrow at 1600, he'll drop me off at the hotel, Kevin will pick me up and take me back home for dinner with my family, and then back at the hotel by 2100. I'll be on the bus by 0500 on Wednesday morning, property of the United States of America. Wish me luck, keep me in your thoughts, but -- most importantly -- write to me. Getting letters will really make the time go by faster, or so I've been told by every person I know who's gone through BCT. Contact Kevin on Facebook (his page is linked from mine) if you missed out on the chance to get me your address.
As I told Emily on the phone earlier tonight, this isn't "goodbye". It's more like "See ya later!"
See ya later.
boom shacka lacka lacka
As I told Emily on the phone earlier tonight, this isn't "goodbye". It's more like "See ya later!"
See ya later.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The Name Game
Kevin is having his bachelor party tonight, I had to work until close, and my best friend is off having a life somewhere, which means I'm home by myself on Saturday night. I'm not complaining, mind; despite the fact that I'm feeling pretty restless, I'm also pretty friggin tired. It's been familyapalooza lately, what with my brother's visit/wedding, Christmas Eve/Day, and Kevin's grandma's New Year's Day get-together. I haven't had a moment to myself. I have a lot I could/should be doing (writing thank you cards, getting my things together for the honeymoon, catching up on e-mails, etc.), but instead I'm reading Harry Potter and doing my laundry -- at least I'm doing one productive thing, right? I would be very surprised indeed if I am awake past midnight tonight.
I just looked it up, and -- at the time of my writing this -- I will be married in 38 hours and 19 minutes. I'm starting to feel prematurely nostalgic about my last name; I found excuses to write out "Colleen Meagher" today. It's an unusual last name that no one ever pronounces correctly, but it's been my identity for nearly 24 years. I wonder how long it will take for the shock of people routinely pronouncing my new last name correctly the first time to wear off. I wonder how long it will take me to answer to Kevin's last name the first time it's called. I wonder how often I'll automatically write my maiden name on things when I'm spacing out (my sister-in-law told me that every now and then she'll write her maiden name on something, even after nearly two years of being a Meagher).
Mostly I'm wondering how my name change (really, my marriage) will change the role I play in my family of origin. I think of my best friend's family -- a family of five sisters -- and how they all must have grown up with the expectation that eventually there wouldn't be a common last name between them. But with my family -- all brothers -- I'll be the odd (wo)man out. I know that we'll always be tied to each other spiritually and emotionally in a way that is unique to siblings, but I have a feeling that isn't going to stop me from trying extra hard to prove (mostly, if not entirely, to myself) that we're still just as connected as we always were. I'll struggle to show proper Meagher pride while still being absolutely thrilled at becoming a Lester.
I'm obviously not the first woman to happily take her husband's name, so I know that I -- like every other woman who has gone through this -- will find the middle ground. I look to my own mother as a guide since she's been signing her married name longer than she ever had her maiden name. She found the way, and so shall I.
Meaghers, know that I love you. I love being one of you. And I will always be a member of that very exclusive club.
Lesters, know that I love you, too. I'm looking forward to being one of you. And in 38 hours and in 19 minutes, you're stuck with me for the rest of my life. No refunds, no exchanges.
I just looked it up, and -- at the time of my writing this -- I will be married in 38 hours and 19 minutes. I'm starting to feel prematurely nostalgic about my last name; I found excuses to write out "Colleen Meagher" today. It's an unusual last name that no one ever pronounces correctly, but it's been my identity for nearly 24 years. I wonder how long it will take for the shock of people routinely pronouncing my new last name correctly the first time to wear off. I wonder how long it will take me to answer to Kevin's last name the first time it's called. I wonder how often I'll automatically write my maiden name on things when I'm spacing out (my sister-in-law told me that every now and then she'll write her maiden name on something, even after nearly two years of being a Meagher).
Mostly I'm wondering how my name change (really, my marriage) will change the role I play in my family of origin. I think of my best friend's family -- a family of five sisters -- and how they all must have grown up with the expectation that eventually there wouldn't be a common last name between them. But with my family -- all brothers -- I'll be the odd (wo)man out. I know that we'll always be tied to each other spiritually and emotionally in a way that is unique to siblings, but I have a feeling that isn't going to stop me from trying extra hard to prove (mostly, if not entirely, to myself) that we're still just as connected as we always were. I'll struggle to show proper Meagher pride while still being absolutely thrilled at becoming a Lester.
I'm obviously not the first woman to happily take her husband's name, so I know that I -- like every other woman who has gone through this -- will find the middle ground. I look to my own mother as a guide since she's been signing her married name longer than she ever had her maiden name. She found the way, and so shall I.
Meaghers, know that I love you. I love being one of you. And I will always be a member of that very exclusive club.
Lesters, know that I love you, too. I'm looking forward to being one of you. And in 38 hours and in 19 minutes, you're stuck with me for the rest of my life. No refunds, no exchanges.
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