Yesterday I thought for a second I was back in the 1960's - a time when I couldn't get a credit card in my own name and as a naval officer's wife, I had to have calling cards in my husband's name - Mrs. Douglas Parrillo - property of.....

I was on the phone with United Airlines. I was attempting to take some of my miles and purchase two tickets for my in-laws. How hard could that be? And then I was informed that I couldn't use my miles because we didn't have the same last name. Later, I thought I should have agreed to have my in-laws change their last names to match mine, but at the time, I went into my completely sarcastic mode. "It might surprise you to know, but actually women are now allowed to have different names from their husbands, etc. etc." Nope, that didn't work, except to raise my blood pressure to some dangerous level.

So, then, I did what I always have to do with United Airlines. I asked to be transferred to International Reservations where the agents are firmly rooted in the 21st century.

Gillian Parrillo
SacWomen