Candlelight Vigil No. 246, 11/24/10

"When you hear that horn," said a 35 ish bus driver with a million dollar smile after she stopped at a red light and opened her doors, "You know it's me!" She then honked her horn repeatedly, waved and wished John Fortier and me a Happy Thanksgiving.

As she closed her doors and drove off, her smile never left her face as she looked at us with such warmth. Standing out in a 53 degree temperature, cold by Los Angeles standards, her words and smile were deeply touching.

"That's a good thing you guys are doing," said a 25 ish man with a 100 watt smile as he walked out of his way to read the sign.

But of all the horn honks and waves of support, the one that most stood out was when a 50 ish Muslim woman in the passenger seat of a gray SUV stopped at a red light, read the sign and with a glow in her eyes nodded her head in agreement and held up her right hand and raised her thumb in support. Her 25 ish son saw her reaction to the vigil, beamed a bright smile, waved and nodded his head in agreement as well.

This matters because our vigil applies to Muslims as much as to anyone else.

And a few minutes later, as the vigil was about to end, another gray SUV stopped at a red light. In the back seat, a 10 year old girl stared intensely at the vigil, trying to absorb it all. After a moment passed, I smiled at her and waved and she smiled and waved back. This is important because that little girl represents what we hope will be a better, more peaceful tomorrow.

When the vigil ended, John put away the sign, shook my hand and left to attend a 11/2 hour Salvation Army orientation in preparation for serving Thanksgiving day meals from 9 am - 2 pm the next day.

John is a Korean War veteran and at 77, a retired school teacher. He volunteers his time to teach a class for Samoans, sometimes teaches a class for Native Americans and on occasion for deaf children. It is an honor to conduct a candlelight vigil with someone who is so compassionate and determined to help others.

Dick