By the third week, the routine started feeling a bit like Groundhog Day. There were subtle variations, but the grind was stronger than anything—and we quickly realized we couldn't give in to it. Because if I surrendered to the fatigue, I’d spend my days alternating between radiation and naps; and as much as I love a good nap... well, you know.
So, every free morning hour while the kids were living it up at the JCC’s ridiculously over-the-top summer camp was pure magic—time for just Sharon and me!
We tried to stick to nearby spots (since traveling in a car was getting rough for me) that were still interesting. Sometimes we’d take short walks (picture a gentle hike, but in extreme slow-motion with a cane) and grab a bite at a different restaurant each time. Looking back, that was kind of funny given that my appetite was pretty nonexistent, and in classic fashion, I started struggling with the absolute basics—like swallowing, which became tricky and downright uncomfortable most of the time. But hey, food is fun and interesting.
So, restaurants. Some were genuinely challenging, but every now and then we’d stumble upon a real gem. There were also a few times—fortunately very few—where I wasn't entirely sure if my miserable stomach was due to the radiation or the menu. In hindsight, we probably should have heeded the red flags... like an empty dining room, a location inside a gas station, and so on...
On the flip side, there were great surprises. Take this one Vietnamese joint right next to another gas station, which came highly recommended by our dear friend "Google." From the outside, it looked tiny and beat-up, but the entrance led into something huge and spacious. Suspicion kicked in. Then both of us stood there, jaws dropped, trying to find where the menu actually ended. The place was massive! Luckily, it wasn't peak hours. My rating system for restaurants simplified rapidly: if I actually have an appetite, eat the food, and actively consider ordering dessert at the same place—it gets a star from the resident expert! 😊
Beyond a colorful lineup of diners—some we couldn't wait to run away from, and others we gladly brought the kids back to later—we made sure to pack in plenty of other activities and surprises.
My mom flew in for a short two-week visit, which instantly snapped us out of the routine and did wonders not just for the kids, but for all of us. On one of the days when my radiation was scheduled for the afternoon, as a special welcoming gesture to the brave grandmother who crossed half the globe to be with us, a stunning leaf insect jumped right onto her and Moran. This happened while everyone was waiting for me in the center's courtyard as I wrapped up another full workday of glorious radiation. With a magnificent welcome like that, the visit was guaranteed to be a hit.
My mom got a room at the same extended-stay hotel where we were living, right up until we moved to another complex that had no vacancies. Her initial room happened to be right next to a cluster of rowdy young folks making a wall of noise. After three challenging days, she was moved to a room at the far edge of the property, right beside a massive lawn glowing with fireflies.
Naturally, I kept showing up at the radiation center every morning, usually full of energy and positivity, eagerly awaiting a shift in how the staff reacted to my answers during check-ins. But as stubborn as I am, they were definitely more stubborn. Much more.
Every single day brought the exact same astonished reactions and double-checks—sometimes triple-checks. Take my weight, for instance, which hadn't dropped by a single gram. To the medical staff, this was nothing short of a miracle, considering that swallowing was becoming a struggle due to radiation near my esophagus, and my appetite was mostly shot from being wiped out all day. So, after multiple requests and outright pleading, my doctor at the center asked what my secret was. I finally agreed to reveal my top-secret formula for high spirits and maintaining weight.
Like all good things in my life, it started with my amazing wife, who managed to track down the absolute richest, most decadent drink ever created in the Starbucks universe! I'm pretty sure listing all the ingredients might actually be illegal, but essentially: whole milk, whipped cream, more whipped cream, and a splash of extra whipped cream (and just so the coffee doesn't feel left out, some caramel, sugar, coffee, and more caramel). A light, nutritious health drink! After days of persuading my mom to try it, she finally caved and pretended to take a tiny sip. A second of silence passed, her eyes went wide, and she immediately ordered one for herself! I successfully dragged her down into the sweet, sugary abyss.
Even though things were getting genuinely hard and car rides weren't comfortable—meaning I frequently passed out while Sharon was driving—these trips were absolutely worth it. Every single ride was worth every minute!
Sharon immediately jumped back into trip-planning mode, complete with route calculations and new spots that neither we nor my mom had ever visited. The kids were beyond thrilled, and the fun officially kicked off! Almost every day that I didn't completely collapse from exhaustion, we headed out to a museum, a nature trail, or a cool local attraction.
We even drove through a safari. In my head, I figured: a 30-minute drive through the safari and we're at the zoo, just like back home!
An hour and a half into the drive, after endless choruses of "Wow, look at that!" and "Look over there!" and "Check out that one!", we started to realize this was on a totally different scale and we were nowhere near done. And sure enough: two and a half hours in the car of an incredible experience that started with giraffes blocking the entrance and ended in the adjacent amusement park, filled with screaming from a roller coaster that nobody cared about—except me.
By then, we were approaching the halfway mark of our stay in New Jersey. The place was starting to feel like home, the kids were packed with activities, and we even had our go-to spots for shopping, eating, playgrounds, and endless accessible nature right at our doorstep.
Then my mom headed back home, and it took the kids a couple of days to adjust.
Me too.
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