My Name is Lola

Hello. My name is Lola. I’m not quite sure why my parents decided to name me that. In fact, I get quite embarrassed about it sometimes. People usually ask something along the lines of, “Hey, do you know that song “Lola” by The Kinks is about a transvestite?” How horrible of an introduction is that? Having your name constantly attributed to someone who “walks like a woman and talks like a man.” I don’t think you’d be too happy either. Well, that’s beside the point. It’s been my name for 21 years and I guess you could say I’m getting rather used to it, perhaps forcibly so. I've learned that as you age one learns how to tune people out, a skill at which I am becoming an expert. But back to the introduction: my name is Lola and I am 21 years young. I live with my parents, my brother Jack and my sister Lily, who are 5-year-old fraternal twins, in a small town just outside of Anchorage, Alaska named Allisaw. Not much happens in this sleepy (quite actionless, in my opinion) town with a population of a mere one thousand. We moved from Connecticut to Alaska two years ago (my dad took a job working as an environmental consultant for a large oil conglomerate) and I can tell it’s been a bit tough on the twins, but they’re adjusting. For me, though, I’d say it’s been pretty smooth sailing. 

         Right now my days consist of lounging around the house, watching television, and keeping up on my exercise. I’m not currently in school, although I was enrolled for a year or so back on the East Coast. Let’s see…what else is there to tell you? I was born in St. Louis, Missouri where the bulk of my family still lives, though I haven’t been back in years. My favorite food is macaroni and cheese, although I don’t eat it often. My favorite pastime is going for long runs (you could say I’m a self-described exercise fanatic) and my favorite movie is “The Sound of Music.” I think that pretty much sums me up, but there is one little thing I should probably mention before we move forward. I have to say, I’ve been struggling with this notion all my life. It’s not an easy thing to say, but I can’t be deceitful right from the start. Yes, my name is Lola. Yes, I live in Allisaw, Alaska. Yes, I have two parents and two siblings who are fraternal twins. Yes, we moved from the East Coast to the West Coast two years ago. Yes, my favorite food is macaroni and cheese and my favorite movie is “The Sound of Music.” Yes, I am technically 21 years old. In dog years, that is.