I understand your story and the thought of losing your name. It was a matter of convenience to call you Mary instead of Margaret. You and I both wonder how many others were so willing to be called by another name just to keep it easier for those they worked for. A name is very important and people should call you by your name. Christina is my name yet people will call my Chris, Christy, and everything else. It always annoyed me. My Uncle Glen always called me Chrissy. I hated it but at the time I was little and didn't want to be rude. Chrissy to me was the worst name ever because it sounded so prissy and goody-two-shoe and that wasn't me. When I turned 16 and got my license, my parents had all my friends and family over to celebrate. It was fun but all I wanted to do of course was to take my friends and go driving around somewhere. I visited with everyone and ate and tried to enjoy being there. Then here comes my Uncle. "Hey Chrissy, congratulations! Let me see that license." Ugh! Ok fine. "Hey thanks for coming. Here it is, " I say. "Well look at that, " he says, "you gonna get a car soon?" "Yes," I said, "I have some money saved up." He says, "Way to go Chrissy!" By now, I am so tired of him calling me that and I can't just smile anymore. "My name is Christina, not Chrissy," I said. It was like time had stopped. My mother looked over at me like I just insulted her. My aunts looked like I spit in their coffee. I must have had a tone along with it because I thought it was polite. Maybe cause after all these years of not saying anything I finally did and that's what these looks are for. My uncle said, "I'm so sorry. Never again Christina." Whew. Not too bad. And till he died 2 years ago he never called me Chrissy.........he called me Christine.....with an "e". I can't win.