So - the first 3 letters of his surname are MAN (and what a man!), and the first 3 letters of mine are BAG (say nothing). We have a decision to make -
If we are to combine our names we have to go with either MANBAG, or BAGMAN for our new surname.
Manbag is not without it's attractions - evocative of long walks among trendy cafés in town, strong colours, gimmicky pockets, and tiny laptops. Plus it would have the added advantage of placing my surname some where around the middle of the alphabet. Supposedly a good place to be, in fiction terms, (I once heard Colin Bateman complaining about being a B surname for this reason).
However - Bagman is a bit more meaningful. Notwithstanding my reputation for poor relations with plastic bags, I love the way Bagman would fit at the end of a "NANA NANA NANA NANA NANA NANA NANA NANA .......BAGMAN!" Plus it could be like our own special super human skill, like to be honest Mr VCTB is very good at remembering to bring plastic bags to the supermarket anyway, as am I - but I usually leave them in the car, so that I still have to buy a bag when I'm in there, maybe I secretly always knew someday I'd be a Bagman, and therefore was building up the stocks. It could be like Bicycle repair man - always ready - Bagman is there with a bag at the ready...
But as always I'll defer to the popular vote - or should I keep my old name - so that my "Fans of the future" can trace me back to my early stuff - ie my one published poem?
5 comments:
Manbag is a little metrosexual - not that there is anything wrong with that - just depends on what image you're looking to put out there... Bagman is pretty good. Think it gets my vote.
Plus it fits well with the phrase "Busy Bagman" otherwise I'd have to go as "Manic Manbag" - which doesn't sound half as nice...
When I got married I did as all others at the time did (although it killed me to leave my own name behind) and took the name of my consort. Much to my disgust I found myself covered with embarrasment for years every time I absent-mindedly put my née name on the end of forms - like collecting childrens allowance for instance. (It was a very long time ago, I thought the whole world would guess I was an unmarried mother of six!)
Would you consider using some of the other letters of your joing alphabetical collection? I think Lionnal has a certain ring to it!
But still, posterity has to be catered for, and in the interest of those tracing their roots several generations from now,and hoping to find a celebrated novelist, maybe you should keep your own name!
I do do O'M for all boring married stuff and alternate identitiy W for writing. Please feel free to borrow this. But, still like the whole Bagman thing - also is helpful when your friends want to refer to you. In my hilariously cool and with it circle of married friends (more a line than a circle as most of our friends are far too dysfunctional to hold down a proper relationship) we refer to each other as the Raceys (Ryan/Casey marraige) or the Delgorrians (Delaney/McGorrian marraige). Its what the hip cats are doing these days...
Yeah was thinkin of keepin the old name for the writing and anything else that might bring shame on the M family - for official purposes will use M - although Lionnal does have something alright...
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