Preparing for Hajj With a Case of "Dad Brain"

It's midnight, three days before I leave for my first hajj, the five-day religious pilgrimage that's among the most meaningful experiences in a Muslim's life. When I arrive in Mecca, I'll join nearly two million believers who've traveled from Virginia, Kabul, and everywhere in between: a dysfunctional but tight-knit family of believers, dreamers and sinners, briefly united under the piercing sun of Mecca.

Wearing white garments that conceal any clues about our professions or possessions, we'll embark on a journey retracing the steps and rituals of Abraham and the Prophet Muhammad and satisfying one of the five pillars of our faith. If we're lucky, we'll earn approving winks from God and return with purified hearts and spiritual clean slates.