What's in a name?

As I begin the process of changing my name, I find it's much more difficult than I had thought. I love my husband, and am very proud to be his wife but it's still strange. It's strange to think that after 29 years I will no longer be a Wannemacher. I feel like I'm losing part of my identity. Despite it's many letters and all the hand cramps I get whan I have to sign more than one document, I like my last name. In the small town where I come from, it means something to be a Wannemacher. I wonder if other women feel the same way when they change their last name. I'm sure I'm not alone. I had considered hypenating my last name. Then I wrote it out. Can you imagine signing Wannemacher-Collins every time? Neither could I. I just sort of feel as if I've lost some important part of myself. I've always been an advocate of women changing their last name. I always thought "what's the big deal?" I think I get it now. I think I may be having some sort of minor identity crisis. I don't feel any different than I did yesterday, but suddenly I'm a whole new person....or at least the same old person with a different name. It's such a strange feeling. I can't quite describe it. However, it will be nice for all of us to have the same name. It really makes us feel more like a family. I know Ben is glad that I'm (almost) officially a Collins. I think he was worried that I was having second thoughts or something. I kept telling him it was a little too late to be having second thoughts about being his wife! As I slowly begin to get used to the idea of shedding one last name and adopting another, I'm optimistic. I mean, who is this Shaun Collins? I suppose she can be anything I want her to be!