October 1st, 2005, my grandmother, Mopper, died. Her loss affected me deeply and acutely and I still feel it today – I suppose I always will. I decided that day that in order to honor her integral presence in my life and preserve a personal link to my extended family on my mom’s side, I would take Mopper’s surname.

This morning I appeared in court, stood before a judge, answered some questions (yes, sir, I’m single; I’ve lived at my current address for 14 months; I’ve been gainfully employed for 2 1/2 years), and walked out a new woman: L. Jennings Rancourt, to follow in the elegant footsteps of Ellen Osgood Jennings. It feels good.