Life moves way too fast sometimes...

I think many people in this world are wedding crazy. So, Michael and I got engaged last Tuesday, it hasnt even been a whole week yet and I have been asked so many crazy questions. Things like "have you set a date yet?" or "Have you looked at dresses yet?" or "Have you found a location for the wedding yet?" or "Have you found a priest to do the ceremony yet?" or "How many guests will you be having?" or "Are you going to make your own invitiations?" or "What colors are you going to use for your wedding theme?" or "Who will be in your wedding party?" or "Are you guys writing your own vows?" or "What time do you plan on having your wedding, morning or evening?" Ok, you get the idea. I could go on with all the crazy questions I have been asked. I definitley think those are all very valid questions, but we havent had time to really think about any of them. People go crazy when you tell them you are going to get married. Now, it might not seem crazy to other people, but I have never really thought about my wedding, so it is crazy to me. Michael and I have some ideas about how we want to do our ceremony and I think it will be so perfect for us. The problem arises in that it will not be perfect for my parents and probably some of his family. I know that it will be impossible to please my parents, but we want to do this wedding for us. This is the only time we will ever get married and it is our expression of what we feel towards each other. I want it to be about us and what we want. I know it will be hard for me to stand up for what we want, but I will do it. It means that much to us. Anyway, all things considered, I am really excited about a future with Michael. The wedding, I am sure, will be great, so I keep telling myself not to get stressed and not to worry about it. Everything will work out, I am certain of that.

Another problem arises when people ask me if I am going to change my name or not. I am not sure yet and it is a very tough decision for me. I feel like it would definitley be easier to change my name. There would be much less hassle when it comes to dealing with organizations and the rest of the world. But, on the other hand, if I change my name, I feel like I will be compromising some of what I believe in. I have spent my life living in what we call "a man's world" and I feel I have spent a big part of my life working to make this world a little more equal among the genders. I dont know how well I have done with that, but I know it is something I spend a lot of time thinking about. I feel that changing my name to Lambert would allow us to unite together, but I also feel like I would be compromising something in changing my name. Nada Lambert doesnt sound so bad at all to me and I think a large part of me would love to take my fiance's name. I love him and that is not where the reservations come in. I think, what if I have a daughter in the future and I try to raise her to be an independent, self sufficient woman who really believes she can do whatever she wants to do. Now, what if she looks at me one day and asks why I changed my name to her dad's name? What do I tell her? I spend so much time talking about how it doesnt make any sense to me to take a man's name just becuase you want to marry him and then I go do it. I feel like there would be some great contradictions there. I guess the way I see it is Michael and I have decided to join our lives together to form one life we can share for the rest of our lives. It is a union, so why does one person change their name instead of both people changing their names to a hyphenated name or a whole new name. Anyway, I have a lot to think about regarding this, but I am hoping i will figure it out. One thing I would like to say is that I am so grateful that Michael is cool with whatever I decide. He has basically said that it is my decision and he is cool either way. Thank goodness I found him. :) Oh yeah, if any of you out there have any pearls of wisdom regarding changing my name or not, please talk to me.