The following is my response to her.

Since you asked, here are my reasons:

1) I like my last name.

2) I've established myself in my career with my last name.

3) I don't like the tradition of it (i.e. women were forced to change their last name because, once married, they became their husband's property).

4) I don't think it's fair that the woman is always expected to change her name. Why not the man?

4) My husband and I both considered changing our last names to something new... until we realized that we'd both have to go through the name change process. No, thanks!

5) I personally don't like the surname Mrs. (it seems so old and stuffy!). I prefer Ms.

6) I don't believe two people should become "one" after marriage. Everyone is an individual and should be treated that way.

7) I love that I can have the "best of both worlds": be married to my best friend and still carry my own last name.

8) It makes me happy. I have never had any regrets - even for a second - about keeping my last name. It's who I am... and I like myself!

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So here I am, one day away from being 33 and yet I am sporting a rather unattractive pizza face. What gives?! When I turned 30, my skin glowed like the mid-summer sun. This is downright upsetting. Silly me; I thought acne was supposed to improve with age.

My facial isn't for another week, dammit.

Happy Friday!