Palomarace

My five-year-old son danced about in his green dinosaur rain boots splashing in the soapy puddles while wielding a garden hose as yet another car slowly inched up to him. His dance was not that of a gleeful child working a car wash, no, it was that of a child who had just downed two mango juices and whose bladder must have been bloated to its limit. I’m sure the constant sound of water did not help the situation either.

On his tiptoes in desperation to reach his dad’s ear, he whispered insistently “I have to go to the bathroom, I have to go to the bathroom NOW!�

Scott put down his sudsy cloth and inquired of Ahmed where the closest restroom was.

He was directed to the Islamic Center.

Inside the rest room my son innocently and unknowingly asked his dad if the long trough like sink was where he should go to the bathroom. Scott, completely alarmed exclaimed “NO! NO! NO! Then a very kind, kind young man began to explain to my son that they wash before they pray and that this is the sink that they wash in. He went through the whole process of how he washes before prayer. My son was intrigued and listened intently.

Upon hearing this, back out in the parking lot, I was aghast that my son almost urinated in the prayer washbasin. I guess this is the type of stuff that only happens when different cultures come colliding together to work side by side for the good of others on Big Sunday.

Big Sunday is a day where people from all different neighborhoods across L.A., all different ages and all different faiths, come together and join forces for a day of service throughout the City of Angels.

At our site, outside the Islamic Center, we all worked together and washed cars throughout the afternoon for the I Have A Dream Foundation I felt so good to raise money for children in need and it felt so good to meet new people and experience just a small part of a culture that I am not that familiar with. It also felt good to help my children see the value in working hard to help others. My 22-month-old little girl was even in on the car wash. She was so focused as she stationed herself in one spot with a big soapy mitt up to her armpit washing the lower portions of each car. The day as a whole made me smile. It is amazing that serving on Big Sunday not only helped other people out but, helped me out too. It made my heart glad.