Stevie Laurice

When Stevie was no more than a tiny little seed in her mother’s uterus, Claire Rauls (Formally Legally Documented as: Maria Claire Johnson Lane Rauls, giving testament to how extra she is) contemplated the name by which she would call her first born daughter. Derived from her father’s first name, Steven (who goes by his middle name, Woody, and is also extra), Claire decided on the uncommonly used Stevie. She then contemplated a bunch of other names to give her daughter to be certain that she also blossomed extra. Fast forward to Claire popping out a baby. She makes her final decisions and dramatically brushes letters across her daughter’s birth certificate, as if she were an artist finishing a masterpiece. Maria Stevie Laurice Rauls. That’s me.

At this point, one may or may not have noticed that this makes both my mother and I Maria Rauls. I've spent approximately ten percent of my life in confusing conversation explaining this to anyone and everyone who requires legal documentation of identification and those who simply want to know why I don’t go by “my real name”. My real name is Stevie. I don’t go by my first name, because my mom is extra. I typically avoid broadcasting my full name as it is this unnecessary headache of explanation, and generally, followed by questions only answered by the queen herself.

This beautiful, historic tale to spend just a little more of my time explaining why I’ve now chosen to sign off as Stevie Laurice. Obviously, I’m not Maria, I’m Stevie. And in the event that anyone ever loves me enough to ask for my sweet hand in marriage, and I decide to change my last name, I’m preemptively alleviating further confusion. Stevie Laurice, it is. Please contact my mother if you'd like to discuss nomenclature. She’s probably cooking and would love to chat. She’ll probably also tell you that she’s surprised I’m allowing recognition by this segment of my name because it is what she used to call me when I was in trouble as a child, and never in an endearing tone. From trouble to trailblazing, let’s fucking go.

Love,

Stevie Laurice