Amputated (a true anecdote)

My marriage to my
first husband ended rather abruptly after a sudden turn of events, and
the legal proceedings that followed took place equally as quickly.
Feeling as I did, angry and confused, I wasted no time changing my name
as soon as the ink was dry on the final papers, converting it from the
hyphenated version of both maiden and married names back to my simple
and comfortable maiden name.

A yearly checkup
with my ob-gyn took place only a few months later. Oblivious to the
recent event that had taken place in my life, he looked over my chart
and became alarmed when he saw a portion of my name scratched out in
black marker.

“Well, well, what happened here, my dear?” he asked with concern. “It looks like your name has been amputated.”

“I know,” I said as I answered and smiled. “So has the husband!”