Name Change Fun Continues

Yesterday I ventured over to the lovely Motor Vehicle Department to get a new license with my new name, and to renew my handicap placard.

The first place we went to was one that has never been busy anytime I have gone in there, but now that have changed their hours and they were no longer open on Monday's. So we had to go to the location in Mesa, across the street from where we got married.

This place, as always, was crowded, but luckily not as bad as I have seen it. I filled out the application for a new license, and the women behind the desk gave me the ticket number H507. H being for handicap, I am guessing there has to be a specific number for dealing with handicap placard renewals. So we sat and waited....

And waited.....

And waited.......

Waiting for your number to be called at the MVD is like playing bingo. There is a board up on the wall and when they call a number, a recorded man's voice plays over the loudspeaker, saying the letter and number and then it will flash across the screen....A654....F457...

I kept waiting for the letter H to pop up, then I started looking around for other handicap people who might ahead of me. Finally they called my number and I looked over and saw that where the window was, it was a very tight fit to get in there and I wasn't sure I could. I told Phil to head over and let the guy know I was on the my way, and I started over there, when the lady behind the desk who gave me my ticket was suddenly right there, helping move chairs out of the way and asking people to move. I was very grateful. It isn't everyday that someone is that helpful toward someone in my position, and it makes me wonder if maybe in her personal life she has or has dealt with, a person in a wheelchair.

I finally get to the window and the guy couldn't be more non-friendly. He said a total of twelve words during the whole transaction, which were "Driver's license and marriage certificate", which I handed over, and then when he was done, "Go around the corner for your license" So I took my new handicap placard, which is good until June of 2013, and went around the corner, where I needed to have a new picture taken since I changed my name.

Why, oh why, does everyone look hideous in their driver's license photo? I could have smiled, I suppose, but then you never know when they are going to take the picture and I didn't want to sit there looking like a smiling retard. But the picture was taken and less then five minutes later there it was, my new license with my new last name. At last I am official and can really start using that name for everything. As it has been, I've been going back and forth between my maiden name and married name. Like earlier in the day, I had to get blood drawn for my doctor and it was under my maiden name, so I had to use that.

Now that I have gotten the two main obstacles out of the way, Social Security and my license, and I changed my name at the bank, now I just have a few more places to change it, which only require a phone call. Changing your name is hard business!

Fun at the SSA

Part of newly married fun is getting to change your name to your new husband's last name. Only thing is, trying to get your name changed can be such a hassle, and one that makes you, according to my friend Kelly, never want to get remarried and have to do the process all over again (haha).

Arizona now has a new building in downtown Phoenix on 7th Ave and Van Buren that handles changing your name, you can no longer go into a local office near your home. For those that aren't familiar with the Phoenix Metro Area, let's just say this office sits in the middle of ghetto town, surrounded by illegal immigrants looking to get picked up for work. This office is about 40 miles from our house, so since Kimbo Husband had the day off, I made him take me down there to get this done once and for all.

This new office was really nice, and luckily there wasn't that many people there, and after being searched by the security guard, it only took about ten minutes before they called our number. The guy asked for pretty much all my information; social security number, mother's maiden name, city and date of birth, everything except asking for my first born. He then asked if I would be changing my name to Fry, or a different name. I wanted to say, "Um, is there another name on that paper?". But I was polite. At the end, Phil joked with the guy asking how quickly I could get my name changed back to my maiden name, and the guy just gave Phil this dead on stare and we thought,"Wow, this guy is not to be joked around with!". Finally he says, "You know, I've been waiting for when my wife tells me my time is expired", and then started joking around with us..phew!

After this, we had to go downstairs to the Social Security District Office, because I had to make sure to get my name changed for my disability benefits and Medicare. This place was a lot more packed, so we go to sign in. The woman asks for my full name, so I said since I just changed it upsets, my name is...and I gave her my full name, using Fry. Then I kinda laughed and told her what my maiden name was and I said I guess I have to use my new name now and she looked at me and sternly said, "Not Yet!". I was like, whoa lady! So she enters me into the computer and tells me they will call my name, and then proceeds to tell me they will call me by my first name and my maiden name, just in case, I don't know, I forgot what my maiden name from ten minutes ago. I finally get called up to a window and everything gets changed over, and I ask the lady when I will be getting my new Medicare card and she says, "Oh, I guess I can order one of those to be sent to you". Hmm...ya think that might be a good idea.

So I got out of there and now I have to wait two days for their system to update before I can go and get my driver's license changed, and after that I can go through the process of changing my name at the bank, credit cards, and all that fun stuff. Who knew changing a name would such tough work!

It is strange though, because in a sense I sort of feel like I don't know who I am anymore. Well, I guess that really isn't quite true, but when you have had one name for 28 years, and then all the sudden you have a new name, and you have to learn to write that instead of your old one, and you have all your legal documents being changed, I sort of feel in the middle between two people, the old me and the new married me. When I have to write my new name, I have to take a second before writing it because I keep writing the old one, and when someone asks me my name, I have to correct myself because I forget. Don't get me wrong, I am not upset about having to change my name, on the contrary I am very excited about it. I just find it strange how in an instant your suddenly a new person with a new name.