The Beauty of My Rebirth

Because your name is gold! DEP Prompt 34 of 52

Eres la narradora de tu propia vida y puedes crear tu propia leyenda, o no. ~ Isabel Angélica Allende Llona, Chilean Author

My birth certificate tells a story.

It’s one of a few decades back — when there were no cell phones or Facebook. I was born at a time when folks could smoke on airplanes (yikes!) and it was acceptable to splash around a fire hydrant in a sweltering NYC summer.

Yea, that was a minute ago!

I wasn’t born Lola Rosario Aponte. My parents were fans of a certain then-popular television singer/actress and figured that would be the perfect nombre to give their only daughter.

Butterflies Birth an Idea

For the majority of my existence, I kept it….until moving to Austin, Texas. At the time (late May 2011), I’d left New York City because my then spouse, Özgür and I had decided it was time to quit the stress of the big metropolis for quieter, greener spaces (a story for another day).

The acclimation process to living in the Lone Star state was in parts a smooth one — we spent lots of time at Barton Springs, connected with a warm tango community, and Özgür immensely enjoyed the burgers (back then I only ate chicken & fish). He’d found a job within two weeks of our arrival.

Since I wanted to stay away from corporate, it took me a while to find work. And when I did it was for a small compliance regulatory business. I was only there for three months before I quit. There had to be another way to make some money.

Enter Turquoise.

In early November 2012, we had gone to the Albuquerque Tango Festival and that’s when I met Hasan, the owner of the Turkish tango shoe brand, Turquoise. Instantly, I was drawn to them. And since it was around the time of my born-day, Özgür surprised me with a pair of butterflies (that’s the playful way of referencing the heels because the Turquoise logo is a butterfly — which is also on the clasp of each shoe).

During those three days and nights, we danced up a storm. Then I got an idea — what if I became a Turquoise distributor? We briefly discussed it with Hasan (during the festival) and agreed to have an in-depth conference call after returning to Austin.

We made it happen with Özgür agreeing to fund the initial several thousand dollars for inventory. Now that I became a butterfly sales rep, I decided to use my childhood nickname — Lola.

A New Phase of My Life

It took a little bit for folks to get used to calling me Lola, but since in Austin people were just starting to get to know me, it wasn’t such a huge change. For family and friends from back in NYC (or other places), I told them about the change but didn’t insist they call me Lola.

One thing I clarified — if you’re going to introduce me to someone, then I’m going to ask to be referred to as Lola (for these new people I’m meeting).

So why Lola?

Some think it’s made up as if I pulled it out of the air. Not the case at all. As a child, my mother often referred to me as ‘Lola.’ I never asked her about it when I was a kid, but in adulthood, I questioned her. Smiling, she replied:

It was just something that came to my mind — a way of calling you something different. So I came up with ‘Lola.’

When I started using the name, I noticed how hearing it uplifted me — it often gave me a smile. I liked hearing when someone said ‘Hola, Lola’ and it also felt closer to my identity. It’s much more relevant to me as a tanguera — as a tango dancer, it describes one of my passions. As an Afro Caribeña Latina, the name is a reminder of my strong Puerto Rican roots.

And, I like how it rolls off the tongue!

What’s In a Name?

It wasn’t until 2015, after moving back to New York City, that I officially requested the court change my name. And though at the time, I was ok with keeping Özgür’s surname, my focus was on getting all of my documents to reflect my childhood moniker.

Sometimes I think, in Austin the new me was birthed.

But the truth of it is I was always Lola. To me, it is much more than a name — it represents the essence of who I am. It’s a reflection of the person I always have been. I don’t believe in coincidences. Nor do I question why I choose to take on the name only my mother ever called me (growing up, no one else ever called me Lola).

When I think of what my name represents to me, these come to mind:

• gratitude — a love of the beauty of life
• frequency — it carries a high vibrational frequency
• vibrant — all the colors of me (literally & metaphorically)
• love — of others, of this earth, of Madre Borikén, of self

As renowned Chilean writer, Isabel Angélica Allende Llona reminds us (referencing & translating the opening quote):

You are the storyteller of your own life, and you can create your legend, or not.

Sí, lo estoy haciendo.

Yes, I am doing so — boldly and unapologetically!!

With thanks to Annelise Lords and Dancing Elephants Press for the motivating prompt. Special shout out to Sharing Randomly for this piece on the beauty of being outdoors, enjoying sunlight.

And yes, if you’ve read this far, the question remains — but what is Lola’s original, given name?

Annette (think of Annette Funicello)

Gracias for reading.

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