As 2025 drew to a close, I was having a bit of an identity crisis, but it’s likely not for the reason you think.
Welcome to the 145th edition of The Sunday Spark, a series with weekly thoughts and highlights, nuggets of learning, and a quote of the week. Along with my identity crisis, this week’s edition looks at greener disposable diapers and personal care products, biodegradable bamboo plastic, and expanded electronics recycling in New Brunswick.
On my mind this week: Michelle’s identity crisis
So, why am I having an identity crisis? Well, I recently learned that Michelle Oram never really existed. It’s a long story and one that’s quite hilarious.
Being born in England in the 1960’s, I have a handwritten birth certificate. I’ve known for years that my first name was misspelled as Michele. The only time it was ever an issue was in the 1980s when I got my Canadian citizenship. The judge who interviewed me asked a lot of questions, inspected all my documents, and agreed to spell it both ways on my citizenship record.
In addition to being Michele not Michelle, I’ve always wondered about the way my last name is written on my birth certificate. It sort of looks like Oram, but the “m” could easily be mistaken for an “n”.
It hasn’t been an issue for over 60 years…until now.
As my daughter Laura researched visa options for her upcoming move to Australia, she learned that UK citizens have more flexibility than Canadians. Since I was born in England, she qualifies for UK citizenship.
In order for her to complete her UK passport application, I had to send away for my full birth record. When I searched my name in the database, nothing came up. Lo and behold, I searched Michele Oran and voilà! So I warned Laura this might be a bit of a problem, ordered the record, and waited to see what would come in the mail.
Who am I anyway?
Several weeks later, the envelope arrived. I eagerly ripped it open. …
Sure enough, the name on my birth registration is very clearly written as Michele Oran. Even better, not only is MY last name misspelled, so is my dad’s name, and my mother’s name. And, my dad signed the darn thing—obviously without reading what he was signing. I’m thinking he must have been in a hurry to get to the pub at the time…or perhaps he was on his way home from the pub.
In recent weeks, my mum and sisters and I have had some good laughs about dad finding a way to make our lives difficult from beyond the grave.
All’s well that ends well
Laura did some further research and learned the UK passport office would accept a notarized affidavit documenting the errors on my birth certificate and swearing that the only name I use for legal and financial purposes is Michelle Oram.
In the end, the UK government accepted the affidavit and evidence I provided, and approved Laura’s passport application. But it feels a little strange to know that I was misnamed at birth. It makes me wonder how many more of these handwritten records are incorrect. I suspect I’m not alone.
Oh, and along the way, we also learned that my daughters and I qualify for Irish citizenship because anyone with just one grandparent born in Ireland qualifies as an Irish citizen. I’ll keep that little tidbit in my back pocket in case the North American political situation gets any worse.
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Three highlights of the week
It’s important to celebrate big milestones and simple pleasures in life. Keeping the trend going, here are three highlights and simple pleasures of the week gone by:
- On Sunday, I had a wonderful lunch and catch up with my high school friends. We always have so many laughs when we get together.
- The weather finally warmed up a bit, so I got out and enjoyed the sunshine on Thursday and Friday.
- On Friday, I went to my Mum’s for a visit and took her some homemade soup and bread for lunch.
Things I learned this week
Life is all about learning. Here are three things I learned this week:
New hydrogel could reduce the impact of personal care products
Every year, millions of disposable diapers and sanitary products are discarded, creating a huge environmental issue. Local researchers here at the University of Waterloo have developed a promising new plant-based hydrogel. The hydrogel absorbs moisture as well as existing polymer materials used in personal hygiene products, but it biodegrades in months instead of centuries.
(Source: CTV News)
Biodegradable bamboo plastic shows promise
Researchers in China have developed a biodegradable plastic made from bamboo that rivals traditional plastics in terms of strength and stability. And, unlike traditional plastics, it breaks down naturally in soil in 50 days—leaving behind no toxic residue.
(Source: Happy Eco News)
New Brunswick expands electronics recycling
Effective January 1, the Canadian province of New Brunswick significantly expanded the electronics its residents can recycle. The expanded list now covers things like coffee makers, toasters, hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, and electric toothbrushes—essentially almost everything you plug in.
Are you paying attention Premier Ford?
(Source: CBC News)
Quote of the week
Wisdom is choosing to do now what you will be happy with later on.
Joyce Meyer
I’d love to hear what you think about any of this week’s topics. Drop me a comment below and let me know your thoughts and ideas.
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Wow, that’s interesting. Well, Michele Oran, nice to meet you. 😀
Ha ha. That’s what my daughter said when I told her. 😂
Awesome!
Fascinating, Michelle — or should I say, Michele? That’s a lot of surprises on one birth registration. Thank goodness you managed to get through the paperwork for Laura’s citizenship. You have me wondering if I have any Irish relatives in case the situation gets worse!
Love the recycling innovation and news! Have a great week!
Thanks Wynne. I couldn’t believe it when I saw my dad signed a form where his own name was misspelled. It all worked out okay, though.
I wish you a wonderful week too, Wynne!
That is quite a story about your name, Michelle. Knowing how bureaucracy can run with something as simple as a misspelled name, I’m glad it didn’t turn into a nightmare. When I applied for Medicare, we ran into a similar snafu that caused months of unnecessary stress because the government wouldn’t approve my application due to an error. The worst part is that no one could tell me what was holding up the process.
Oh that is frustrating, Pete. I actually expected it to be more of an issue. Her passport application got approved very quickly.
What a saga regarding your name! I am glad you and your family are able to laugh about it, because it sounds extremely frustrating. And thank you, as always, for little glimmers of positive environmental news regarding possible future disposable diapers and bamboo-based plastics which would decompose much faster than what we are using (abusing?) right now.
It is frustrating, and I am surprised it has never really been an issue before now. Since I got my Canadian citizenship 40 years ago, I’ve never had to produce my UK birth certificate. I suppose I should look into getting it corrected at some point.
And yes to better options for plastic!!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Will! Happy New Year to you!
Nice to read that steps are still happening to make products that won’t sit in landfills forever.
Now that you point out the naming issues I’m wondering (and fully apologizing) if I have been spelling your name wrong when I comment??? I am so sorry if I’ve used the one L version but I think it’s entirely possible. As I write it here (Michele) that definitely doesn’t look correct but that doesn’t mean I’ve not used the wrong version. Yikes. Feel free to call me out if you happen to see me send a message that is not Michelle but the incorrect Michele…or even something else 🙂
Yes, the disposable diaper news was very encouraging. I was especially happy to see it was developed right here in my community.
I don’t think you’ve ever misspelled my name here, Deb. And clearly, I have no reason to get upset if you did since my own father couldn’t get it right. 😂
That’s quite the plot twist, Michelle/Michele. Glad it all worked out for your daughter in the end!
It was quite the story. I can’t help but wonder what the UK passport office thought of it all. But I suppose they must be used to this kind of thing.
I do think it’s a common thing they encounter. I’m just glad it didn’t cause an issue for your daughter!
Me too because it will be nice for her to have additional flexibility on the type of work she can do in Australia. And then I ask myself why I am making it easier for her to move to the other end of the Earth. But that’s a topic for another day. Enjoy your Sunday, Ab! 😀
Ellis Island changed my great grandmother’s name was Agnesa to Elizabeth. All sorts of weird stuff
The misspelling and consequent results are pretty wild!! I’m guessing that happened a lot
I suspect you’re right. I think that’s what makes tracing one’s family history so difficult. Details matter!
My dad is of polish ancestry and rumor has it that each of the siblings names were misspelled on birth certificates. The family decided to Americanize the name in like 1960 so everything would be the same
Oh my goodness. That is crazy! You’ve made me want to inspect each of my sisters’ birth certificates now. Heaven knows what I’d find! 😂
Oh my goodness, Michelle…Michele…whoever you are, LOL! What a crazy discovery…and I love that you had some intuition about the possible misspelling of your surname and you were right! It’s been one of the most interesting things about my ancestry dive – finding out how indiscriminately last names were changed along the way. But the chuckle about your dad not noticing made my morning…signing away…how ironic, really? Sending big smiles! 😜❤️😜
It is interesting how things like names weren’t given the importance they deserved. For many years, I also used a middle name because my parents told me it was my name Then that stern citizenship judge pointed out that it isn’t on my birth certificate so I shouldn’t be using it. At some point, I should get it removed from my drivers’ license, health card, tax records, etc. etc. etc. 😂
I hear you!!! And we live in such a “me first” world these days. Speaks volumes to me about the rise of individualism. Our forefathers and mothers understood community in ways we’ve foregone, perhaps? Thinking about ourselves, identities and gah — “brands”?!? 😜
You make an excellent point about individualism. They called the boomers the “me generation” and while I think we started the movement, we still had a strong sense of community and what matters.
As for personal brands, I had a colleague once who was really big on self-promotion and personal branding. It all felt very phoney to me.
I hear you! Love our fun interactions this morning, my friend. Xo! 😘
🤗😀🤗