Finding a Solution in the Hyphenate-Debate

We've finally figured out what we're going to do about our names after the wedding. We've both lived and worked long enough with our own names that we don't want to lose that part of how people know us. But we also both want to take each others' names. (This might be helpful, too, given how many people I'm still finding that didn't realize we were getting married). And there are other factors, too, like racial justice, that go into names. Jorge, for example, would like an Anglo name, which may help to alleiviate some of the discrimination he faces.

I've come to really like the Salvadorean method of taking a husband's name, which may happen in other countries also. I could be 'Le Anne Clausen de Montes,' which sounds nicer than a simple hyphenated 'Clausen-Montes.' And it allows for Jorge to be a Montes Clausen, with his name first. We haven't figured out the children's names yet, though I think Montes Clausen would work well.

Incidentally, we have worked through our earlier dilemma, that we will probably solve the age difficulty by having our first sooner, and our second later, and foster or adopt any others.This past weekend at the SOA rally and vigil, I heard a lot of beautiful first names, like Dominga and Salvadore'. And something like Susanna Theresa would cover three parental names in one.

So--the search for stable incomes (hopefully continuing meaningful work) proceeds full force for us both; and we'll probably start working on a family as soon as we can afford it.

That's all for now. Back to the books.