When she found out she was having a boy, my mother didn\u2019t hesitate for even a moment. She had always wanted a boy so she could name him Omar. For many months in the womb, she referred to me as Omar. In her mind and heart, she waited for Omar to arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few weeks before I was born, my grandmother asked my mom for a personal favor: To change her mind (and heart) about the name Omar. My grandmother suggested the name Rami, after the son of her \u201cChristian neighbor\u201d, whom she adored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And so, I arrived, my mother\u2019s Omar, now named Rami. And I can\u2019t help but wonder how different I would\u2019ve been as Omar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes I\u2019d look in the mirror and call myself Omar to see if I\u2019d respond to the name, but I don\u2019t respond. It could\u2019ve been but it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hi, my name is Rami, against all odds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When she found out she was having a boy, my mother didn\u2019t hesitate for even a moment. She had always wanted a boy so she could name him Omar. For many months in the womb, she referred to me as Omar. In her mind and heart, she waited for Omar to arrive. A few weeks … <\/p>\n