Maiden Names
Google the name "Beth Woodworth" – You will find me. The AIC student awards, Cancer Research, and Estrogen Receptor Genotypes and Haplotypes. Those hits are mine and they can be found under the name "Beth Woodworth." For the past 24 years, that has been me, Beth Woodworth or when my Mom is really angry, Beth Marie Woodworth. My initials are neat: BMW and they happen to match my Mom’s.
Everything I’ve done, all that I’ve accomplished and all that I’ve failed has been as Beth Woodworth. I’ve had great moments and horrible moments, I’ve loved people, hated people, had my heart broken, probably broke some myself, but they have all been done by Beth Woodworth.
Shortly after we became engaged, Matt and I had the discussion regarding the name change. I was frankly shocked at Matt’s strong stance on us having the same last night. At first it annoyed me because I do not want to feel like my husband owns me with his last name. So, the more his opinion became set, the more I became determined that I didn’t want to change my last name. After significant discussion, Matt said that he didn’t care, we could go to the court house and get an entirely new last name, he just wanted us to have the same last name. The symbolism of a family unit and starting anew was his basis for this staunch opinion on the matter. And I agree to an extent on that matter. I think what finally made me concede that we should share the same last name was the fact that if we ever have children, I would like them to have the same last name as both their father and their mother. Trust me, the fight over whose last name to use for the children would be a big one and I would win because I have to carry the kid around.
We discussed new last name ideas: Gates, Ford, Jackson, Jordan… But, none of them amounted to Carr. All in all, Carr just fits us. The last name has a great story behind it. It is short and sweet. And, AND, it begins with a C (one of the first letters in the alphabet). It was decided and Carr it shall be.
Last night, I went racing to the mailbox for my daily obsession over the amount of RSVPs in our mail (yes, I am still waiting on a few…). There was a box of checks that Matt and I ordered. I opened the checks to make sure that they correct. The checks are really cool with dirt bikes on them, but all I noticed was the top left corner. The checks said Matthew and Beth Carr. I stared at the checks for a minute and felt a slight twinge of pain over the loss of what feels like my identity. I can only hope that Beth Carr starts to feel like me at some point.
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:42 pm
Hmmm, Matt Woodworth?
I agree though, having the same last name is important, to me at least. It really does symbolize the family, unity, devotion, etc. How about Kennedy, or Rockefeller? 