On April 12th (2013) I changed my name. Well, it wasn't that simple. I should clarify that after months of standing in line, filing paperwork, making phone calls, navigating the halls of a very large government building, waiting, parking, filing more paper work, one long morning in court and a conversation with a very nice judge, my name change was finalized. It was official. I was staring at a legally stamped and sealed document that verified that I had, in fact, become Aerin Leigh-Amann. And that randomly chosen date, April 12th, that just happened to coincide with the start date of the American Civil War, was NOT a harbinger of trouble. My husband looked over my shoulder and approved. As a matter of fact, he will proudly tell you that he paid for the whole thing. He bought me my new name. From the very beginning, he insisted on paying all of the exorbitant fees attached to the process, as well as supporting me (and double checking the fine print) every step of the way. His gift was a reflection of the fact that no one knew better than him the pain that I had suffered in the shadows of my former name and it meant the world to me that he was so incredibly supportive of my new beginning. Writers understand the care that can go into just a few words. Graphemes, alliteration, syllables that flow, symbolism. . . Aerin Leigh-Amann. . . essentially three simple words . . . representing the single most empowering decision I've ever made in my life. It's right there in black and white. And every time I see it written on paper, every time I hear it spoken, the possibilities of who I am, who I'm becoming, take my breath away.
April 2013 - Becoming Aerin Leigh On April 12th (2013) I changed my name. Well, it wasn't that simple. I should clarify that after months of standing in line, filing paperwork, making phone calls, navigating the halls of a very large government building, waiting, parking, filing more paper work, one long morning in court and a conversation with a very nice judge, my name change was finalized. It was official. I was staring at a legally stamped and sealed document that verified that I had, in fact, become Aerin Leigh-Amann. And that randomly chosen date, April 12th, that just happened to coincide with the start date of the American Civil War, was NOT a harbinger of trouble. My husband looked over my shoulder and approved. As a matter of fact, he will proudly tell you that he paid for the whole thing. He bought me my new name. From the very beginning, he insisted on paying all of the exorbitant fees attached to the process, as well as supporting me (and double checking the fine print) every step of the way. His gift was a reflection of the fact that no one knew better than him the pain that I had suffered in the shadows of my former name and it meant the world to me that he was so incredibly supportive of my new beginning. Writers understand the care that can go into just a few words. Graphemes, alliteration, syllables that flow, symbolism. . . Aerin Leigh-Amann. . . essentially three simple words . . . representing the single most empowering decision I've ever made in my life. It's right there in black and white. And every time I see it written on paper, every time I hear it spoken, the possibilities of who I am, who I'm becoming, take my breath away.
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July 2020
I'm Aerin Leigh. I'm a once upon a time teacher and a forever reading cheerleader. I'm a writer, a reading specialist, and a a believer in the power of words. I've seen a little of the world, but my first love is Michigan. I live here with my husband and two spoiled Boxer dogs, Merlot and Riesling. We're happy empty nesters and we spend a lot of time in our hot tub. . . to stay warm. Winter is my solace, but Summer has been my teacher and my friend. I'm an occasional runner, and a constant connoisseur of wine and friendship and gel nails. Anything that lights up is magic to me . . . like fireflies, the glow of a storybook moon, Christmas lights under the stars, and my Colorado grandbabies' faces when they see me on Skype. I embrace quirky things like Feng Shui and Acupuncture and prayer . . . because they just might work. I'm a survivor of much and of many, but I leave my heart wide open. My children are my role models, my current passion is possibility, and my God is good.
Come follow my leap of faith journey . . . There'll probably be a lot of crazy, but you just might get to witness a soft landing. |