I was in the process of activating a new credit card.  (I needed to get another because my U.S. credit card companies love to charge me crazy international fees to use the cards up here in Canada.)

Anyway, I had provided my address, date of birth, and some other items.  The man on the other line then said, "May I please have your mother's maiden name?"  That gets to me every time.  I know I'm too young to not have a mother but apparently society thinks so as well.

People just assume my mom is still alive.  I'll be talking with people I've just met and they'll ask me what my mom does for work or where she lives.

I don't mind telling people about my mom, even on days I really miss her.  I want the memory of her to live on.  I just don't like being put in a box.  I'm in my mid-twenties so I must have a living father and mother.  That's just not the case for everyone.

Does anyone else know what I mean?