Feb 18th will be my 2 year anniversary since my MOAS. Some days I even forget I ever had cancer. Today was not one of those days.
Today I had my bi-annual CT scan. This is usually one of the most anxious times for me. The blood tumor markers are a little anxiety producing, but not as bad as the CT scan. While the tumor markers can flucuate over a period of time, the CT scan shows what is going on in your body.
Anyway, getting to the results, everything is STABLE!! WHOO HOO!!
Now I can breathe again until the next scan in 6 months.
As for the blood tumor marker tests I had last Monday, those came back OK. Not great, but not bad either. The CEA was 3 (normal range is 0-2.5). I'm not overly concerned as it has gotten higher than that before, then went down again after a few months. So, until we see it keep going up, I'm not going to worry. The CA 19-9 was 27 (normal range is 0-37).
So, so far so good.
BTW - Roni and I went to FL for a week's vacation and had a pretty good time. It was pretty windy so we weren't able to do some of the activities we wanted to, but we were able to relax, ride a motorcycle, wrestle some gators (and by wrestling, I mean take pictures of), and enjoy the warm sunshine while it was freezing cold in NYC. I hope to have some pictures up soon.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. I don't know how Roni and I would be able to handle this without all of you.
Kevin
Monday, January 30, 2006
Monday, January 23, 2006
Goodbye Bob...
Our friend and fellow PMP warrior, Bob Peterson passed away this morning. Roni and I had the pleasure of meeting Bob and his wife a couple of weeks ago when we went to Chicago, specifically to meet him. We went because a week or so before, he announced that he was going under hospice care, and that meant only one thing, he didn't have much longer.
Bob fought PMP for over four years, and that was after being misdiagnosed and mistreated for a long time. When he finally started seeing a specialist, his cancer was so advanced and his tumor so cemented to his abdomen, that his doctor put him on oral chemo for years, hoping to soften the tumor enough to surgically remove it. When Bob finally went in for his MOAS (Mother Of All Surgeries), the tumor was not softened enough, and the doctor was only able to remove part of it.
After being on TPN (due to a blockage) for months, Bob finally decided that his Quality of Life was just not what he wanted. He decided that he did not want to continue suffering. He wanted to go out on his terms. And so he did.
Now, he is truly cancer free.
Bob was a friend, a fellow PMP warrior and an advocate for people to get the right treatment. He helped more people than he would ever know, and most likely helped save a lot of lives.
Please say a pray for the family he left behind. He will be greatly missed.
Goodbye my friend. Rest in G-d's peace.
Bob fought PMP for over four years, and that was after being misdiagnosed and mistreated for a long time. When he finally started seeing a specialist, his cancer was so advanced and his tumor so cemented to his abdomen, that his doctor put him on oral chemo for years, hoping to soften the tumor enough to surgically remove it. When Bob finally went in for his MOAS (Mother Of All Surgeries), the tumor was not softened enough, and the doctor was only able to remove part of it.
After being on TPN (due to a blockage) for months, Bob finally decided that his Quality of Life was just not what he wanted. He decided that he did not want to continue suffering. He wanted to go out on his terms. And so he did.
Now, he is truly cancer free.
Bob was a friend, a fellow PMP warrior and an advocate for people to get the right treatment. He helped more people than he would ever know, and most likely helped save a lot of lives.
Please say a pray for the family he left behind. He will be greatly missed.
Goodbye my friend. Rest in G-d's peace.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
When Good Things Happen to Good People
A while ago, I wrote a post called “Why do bad things happen to good people?” I reflected on why cancer happened to me. I wondered why people who don’t deserve things like this, have to go through it. I really didn’t have any answers. I don’t think anyone does. And if someone says they do have an answer, be wary. Be very wary.
But this time, I want to talk about something different. A couple of my favorite shows are “Extreme Makeover – Home Edition” and “Three Wishes”. OK, sometimes they might seem kinda sappy, but I’ll admit, I cry during almost every show. Why? Because I get to see “Good Things Happen to Good People”. People who have been through experiences that none of us should ever have to go through. And these people seem to have gone through these experiences with a strength that just doesn’t seem normal. But it is a strength I see every day in the support group I belong to. Don’t get me wrong, we also experience fear, depression, fear, pain, and, did I mention fear?
But a therapeutic part of having cancer is helping others get through what you have already been through. Being able to answer questions, alleviate people’s fears, point them in the right direction, and comfort those that have experienced loss, makes having to go through surgeries and chemo all seem worth it. I wouldn’t want to go through these things again, but since I have, I want to be able to help others.
Speaking of our support group, if you ever meet other people with PMP, please point them to our site. It was created to help those who need help. Our goal is to make sure good things happen to good people.
But this time, I want to talk about something different. A couple of my favorite shows are “Extreme Makeover – Home Edition” and “Three Wishes”. OK, sometimes they might seem kinda sappy, but I’ll admit, I cry during almost every show. Why? Because I get to see “Good Things Happen to Good People”. People who have been through experiences that none of us should ever have to go through. And these people seem to have gone through these experiences with a strength that just doesn’t seem normal. But it is a strength I see every day in the support group I belong to. Don’t get me wrong, we also experience fear, depression, fear, pain, and, did I mention fear?
But a therapeutic part of having cancer is helping others get through what you have already been through. Being able to answer questions, alleviate people’s fears, point them in the right direction, and comfort those that have experienced loss, makes having to go through surgeries and chemo all seem worth it. I wouldn’t want to go through these things again, but since I have, I want to be able to help others.
Speaking of our support group, if you ever meet other people with PMP, please point them to our site. It was created to help those who need help. Our goal is to make sure good things happen to good people.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Good News - Bad News
First the good news.
I got a call from my oncologist this morning and he told me (well, he told Roni, I was out on an errand) that the tumor markers have not changed. Although I don't know the exact numbers, and haven't seen the report, I'm relieved to hear that they are normal.
UPDATE - 10/19/05 - I just received a copy of my tumor marker test. The doctor was wrong when he said the tumor markers have not changed. THEY ACTUALLY WENT DOWN!!! That's right, the last CEA level was at 2.5 (the high end of the scale), this one was at 1.9!! That's even better news.
Now for the bad news...
Sad Site, originally uploaded by kevkersey.
I got a call from my oncologist this morning and he told me (well, he told Roni, I was out on an errand) that the tumor markers have not changed. Although I don't know the exact numbers, and haven't seen the report, I'm relieved to hear that they are normal.
UPDATE - 10/19/05 - I just received a copy of my tumor marker test. The doctor was wrong when he said the tumor markers have not changed. THEY ACTUALLY WENT DOWN!!! That's right, the last CEA level was at 2.5 (the high end of the scale), this one was at 1.9!! That's even better news.
Now for the bad news...
Sad Site, originally uploaded by kevkersey.
That's my bike crushed between the cab to the right and the van to the left.
On Sunday morning, at about 2:30 AM, I woke from my sleep when I heard some yelling outside. That isn't unusual, but usually the yelling only last for a few seconds. This time it kept up. Then I heard loud popping sounds. Gun fire? Well, we do live at the bottom of Spanish Harlem, so I wouldn't be surprised. I thought I'd better have a look.
I looked out our bedroom window, where I am able to see my bike parked. What I saw was a cab pinning my bike to another car. As I was still waking up (after only a few hours sleep), I needed a better look so I went to our living room window where I could see out better. Sure enough, there were cops and the FDNY all over the place and what looked like smoke coming from around the corner.
I got dressed, grabbed the digital camera and ran downstairs. In front of our apt, another cab had run into the bus stop and caught on fire. It was put out by the time I got there. As for my bike, it was originally covered, but by the time I got there the FDNY had removed the cover and was trying to figure out how to disconnect the battery. I told them it was my bike, and would do so. I ran back up for my keys (to turn off the alarm) and came back. Roni came down to see what was going on. I took off the seat and disconnected the battery. I also got all of my belongings out of the saddle bag.
I then spent the next 5 and half hours calling the insurance company, my roadside assistance (to have the bike towed), went with the tow truck to the wreckers, walked about 10 blocks from the wreckers to the subway, rode the subway from Queens back into Manhattan, which left me off ten blocks from my apt because the local subway wasn't running (grrrr...). I finally got back home at about 8:30 AM and promptly fell asleep for about 2 hours.
Today, I spoke to the insurance company who said the bike was totaled and will be taking it from where it is now to their shop to determine the value. I wanted to get a new bike anyway, so maybe this is my opportunity. :-) We'll see.
For more picks of the accident, click here.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Time for an update...
OK, it's been awhile since I've posted an update to the blog. I have no excuse. So here goes.
First of all, if you remember, there were some "abnormalities" on my last CT scan. My oncologist said that I shouldn't worry about them, so I didn't. But when I went in to discuss the scan with him, he said that he received a letter from Dr. Sugarbaker, who said it looked like it could be the return of disease. That's a phrase you never want to hear. Well, needless to say, I was stunned. All these things started going through my mind, "Will I need another surgery?", "Will I end up with a permanent ostomy?", "Will I need more chemo?" Once those thoughts start, it's easy to spin down into despair.
A day or so later, I started to feel better. Especially after I started thinking about what the CT scan showed. Two of the abnormalities were unchanged from the last scan, and the one that did change, was on the liver. Now, I haven't gone back and checked yet, but if my memory serves me right, the thing on the liver was there from the very beginning, and Dr. Sugarbaker said it looked like scar tissue. I don't know why it would have grown, but who really understands all of the intricacies of the human body?
Anyway, Dr. Sugarbaker suggested another CT scan in 6 months, but my oncologist suggested another tumor marker test in a month (which is about now) and another CT scan in about 3 months (about 2 months now). So, I need to call and make an appt for my tumor marker test soon,.
Aside from that, I am still dealing with learning to be a cancer survivor. While it may seem that should be an easy thing, I really believe that PTSS is a part of what I am dealing with. Not as bad as what soldiers or others in life-threatening situations go through, but maybe to a lesser degree. While I am thankful for being alive and surviving all that I did, the fear of cancer is something that always dwells in the back of my brain.
On a more positive note, I got a new primary care doctor about a month ago. While going over my medical history with him, and after a quick physical, he suggested a new medication (after he found I had my gall bladder removed) which was supposed to help with the diarrhea and multiple bowel movements. It is called Cholestryamine, and while it kind of resembles Tang flavored mud, it has really helped in reducing the amount of diarrhea and the amount of BMs I have a day. Heck, at times I even feel almost normal again. Before that, I would say I felt about 80% normal, now it is more like 90%. So things are looking up in the area.
Well, that's about it for now. I'll write again after I get my next tumor marker test.
If you are a praying person, I'd appreciate prayers for my next tests (blood and CT scan), that the tumor markers will be normal and the "abnormalities" will either stay the same, or decrease (or better yet, just disappear). Thank you all again for your continued support and prayers. No matter how long I live, I will never be able to say "Thank You" enough.
Kevin
First of all, if you remember, there were some "abnormalities" on my last CT scan. My oncologist said that I shouldn't worry about them, so I didn't. But when I went in to discuss the scan with him, he said that he received a letter from Dr. Sugarbaker, who said it looked like it could be the return of disease. That's a phrase you never want to hear. Well, needless to say, I was stunned. All these things started going through my mind, "Will I need another surgery?", "Will I end up with a permanent ostomy?", "Will I need more chemo?" Once those thoughts start, it's easy to spin down into despair.
A day or so later, I started to feel better. Especially after I started thinking about what the CT scan showed. Two of the abnormalities were unchanged from the last scan, and the one that did change, was on the liver. Now, I haven't gone back and checked yet, but if my memory serves me right, the thing on the liver was there from the very beginning, and Dr. Sugarbaker said it looked like scar tissue. I don't know why it would have grown, but who really understands all of the intricacies of the human body?
Anyway, Dr. Sugarbaker suggested another CT scan in 6 months, but my oncologist suggested another tumor marker test in a month (which is about now) and another CT scan in about 3 months (about 2 months now). So, I need to call and make an appt for my tumor marker test soon,.
Aside from that, I am still dealing with learning to be a cancer survivor. While it may seem that should be an easy thing, I really believe that PTSS is a part of what I am dealing with. Not as bad as what soldiers or others in life-threatening situations go through, but maybe to a lesser degree. While I am thankful for being alive and surviving all that I did, the fear of cancer is something that always dwells in the back of my brain.
On a more positive note, I got a new primary care doctor about a month ago. While going over my medical history with him, and after a quick physical, he suggested a new medication (after he found I had my gall bladder removed) which was supposed to help with the diarrhea and multiple bowel movements. It is called Cholestryamine, and while it kind of resembles Tang flavored mud, it has really helped in reducing the amount of diarrhea and the amount of BMs I have a day. Heck, at times I even feel almost normal again. Before that, I would say I felt about 80% normal, now it is more like 90%. So things are looking up in the area.
Well, that's about it for now. I'll write again after I get my next tumor marker test.
If you are a praying person, I'd appreciate prayers for my next tests (blood and CT scan), that the tumor markers will be normal and the "abnormalities" will either stay the same, or decrease (or better yet, just disappear). Thank you all again for your continued support and prayers. No matter how long I live, I will never be able to say "Thank You" enough.
Kevin
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Roni here
I know I haven't posted for awhile. Kevin's being doing a great job of keeping everyone up to date, so why be redundant?
However, after reading Kevin's recent post, I want to echo Kevin's thanks to G-d (I hope to one day soon post a list of all of the miraculous events--some of which we did not include in the blog postings when we were in the thick of things).
I also want to add my thanks to Kevin's for all who prayed for us, encouraged us, brought us food, drove us, stayed with us at the hospital. The list goes on and on. But we're mostly grateful for the prayers, because we fully believe it's because of prayer that Kevin is here today.
Lastly, I just want to say how proud I am of my husband. I have seen his soldier's strength and resolve from the very beginning and throughout his long, difficult battle. I saw his faith, already firmly established in a bedrock of carefully considered truth-seeking, continue to strengthen and grow. Normal moments of self pity were fleeting, and not something in which he indulged himself. In many ways, he has been my stable, dependable source of strength as I struggled in the role of caretaker. In other words, he was Kevin.
Crises tend to bring out either the best or the worst in people. Cancer brought the very best Kevin to the forefront, and I am proud to be his wife and grateful for the lessons he is still teaching me. He is my hero.
Roni
However, after reading Kevin's recent post, I want to echo Kevin's thanks to G-d (I hope to one day soon post a list of all of the miraculous events--some of which we did not include in the blog postings when we were in the thick of things).
I also want to add my thanks to Kevin's for all who prayed for us, encouraged us, brought us food, drove us, stayed with us at the hospital. The list goes on and on. But we're mostly grateful for the prayers, because we fully believe it's because of prayer that Kevin is here today.
Lastly, I just want to say how proud I am of my husband. I have seen his soldier's strength and resolve from the very beginning and throughout his long, difficult battle. I saw his faith, already firmly established in a bedrock of carefully considered truth-seeking, continue to strengthen and grow. Normal moments of self pity were fleeting, and not something in which he indulged himself. In many ways, he has been my stable, dependable source of strength as I struggled in the role of caretaker. In other words, he was Kevin.
Crises tend to bring out either the best or the worst in people. Cancer brought the very best Kevin to the forefront, and I am proud to be his wife and grateful for the lessons he is still teaching me. He is my hero.
Roni
Test Results
"O LORD, You have brought up my soul from Sheol;
You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit.
Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning."
(Psalm 30:3-5)
Well, the test results are in, and we still have "good news".
First, my CEA tumor markers went down from last time. If you recall, Roni and I were concerned that they had continued to rise since my initial surgery with Dr. Sugarbaker in Feb of 2004. In Feb of this year, the CEA results went up to 3.1, 0.6 past the acceptable range of 0.0 - 2.5. We had the test done again a month later, and it went back down to 2.7. Roni and I breathed a sigh of relief. Well, this time it was even better, it went back to 2.5, back into the normal range.
With that out of the way, the next thing was the CT scan. I had that done Monday morning.
To be honest, I really hate having a CT scan. You have to drink about a half gallon of "contrast", which could either be barium, or this other mixture which contains white cranberry juice. The white cranberry juice is just slightly better than the barium. Slightly. After you drink the "stuff", you lie down and they hook up an IV with more contrast that they pump through your veins. This isn't horrible, but I'm really tired of needles and IVs. This time they gave me the IV in probably the most painful spot they could. It's now Wednesday and it's still sore. But, the scan went quickly and I was soon on my way.
I called my oncologist yesterday (Tues) and asked if he had the results. He did and said that for the most part, everything looked good. There was just one thing that he didn't understand and wanted to confer with Dr. Sugarbaker. Unfortunately, Dr. Sugarbaker is busy with surgeries for the next few days, then I believe he is going overseas to do some training. So it might be awhile before we get a good answer for my oncologist's question. But he said with the CT scan, the tumor marker result and the exam he gave me last week, he was very happy and said "I think you're getting better." Always good words to hear from a doctor.
So, after 17 months since my MOAS (Mother Of All Surgeries), and a year after my last surgery, things are looking good. My intestines are still not fully healed, and I still have problems with diarrhea and having to use the "loo" about 5 times a day, but I am much better than I was just a few months ago.
I would just like to thank everyone again (I'll never be able to thank you all enough) for all of your prayers, good thoughts, support, etc. Roni and I wouldn't be where we are if it wasn't for all of our friends and family that helped us through the hard times, to get to today.
Kevin
Sunday, July 17, 2005
One Test Down... One To Go
Last Wednesday (July 13th), I had my latest Tumor Marker test. I still don't know the results yet, but should find out tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow, that is the day of my next CT scan. I'll have to admit, I'm not looking forward to it. The tests themselves aren't too bad, it is the waiting for the results that I don't like. And then when the doc says something like, "Well, there are some anomalies, but nothing to worry about.", you always worry.
I'm praying that this time, I will get an "All Clear" with no anomalies.
Your prayers are appreciated as well.
I'll let you know the results as soon as I get them.
Speaking of tomorrow, that is the day of my next CT scan. I'll have to admit, I'm not looking forward to it. The tests themselves aren't too bad, it is the waiting for the results that I don't like. And then when the doc says something like, "Well, there are some anomalies, but nothing to worry about.", you always worry.
I'm praying that this time, I will get an "All Clear" with no anomalies.
Your prayers are appreciated as well.
I'll let you know the results as soon as I get them.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
A Year Ago Today
Last year, today, I had my last (and hopefully final) surgery dealing with my cancer. This time last year I was still in the recovery room, and if my memory serves me right, I was having nurses and doctors telling me I needed to breathe on my own. I thought I was, but I guess I wasn't, 'cuz they kept telling, "Try breathing."
Jump ahead one year. Today I am doing much better. Still not 100%, but getting better all the time.
Of course, the surgery was not the last thing to do with this disease. I still have tests to take to make sure that the cancer doesn't come back. The next test will be a tumor marker blood test. I'm scheduled to have it done July 13th at 10:30 AM. At that time, I will also schedule my next CT scan. Prayers for both of these events would be greatly appreciated. Right now I'm not nervous about them, but I am sure as the time gets closer, the fear of "recurrence" will start to raise its ugly head.
Now, back to the story...
In the last post, I talked about our trip to Israel. After we returned, we had a few days to recover, then on Friday, May 27th, I left NYC and headed to Washington DC. Not for an operation, or even a doctor's appointment, but for one of my favorite events, "Rolling Thunder". Rolling Thunder is a demonstration or "protest" if you will, to remember the POW/MIA issue, and to never forget those who never came home from war. It is a large gathering of motorcycles and veterans, with approx 500,000 motorcycles descending on the Pentagon's north parking lot Sunday morning, May 29th. A parade then begins at 12 noon and continues until late afternoon while hundreds of thousands of motorcycles snake through Washington DC, with thousands of people lining the route waving, yelling, waving flags, etc. It is always a very patriotic, moving experience.
After the parade, the group I was with (New York City Harleys Owner Group, or NYCHOG) left DC and started the long trek back to NYC. I finally pulled up to my apt about 11:30 PM, tired and sore, but looking forward to doing it again next year.
The next Sunday, June 5th, was the annual Bikers Against Breast Cancer run that we do every year. This is hosted by our HOG chapter (again, NYCHOG), and because it was a warm, sunny day, we had a good turnout. There was well over 1,000 bikes and that meant even more people registered for the ride. It is always for a great cause, but this is the last year that I will actually "ride" in the parade. Why? you ask. Well, with about 1,000 bikes, it takes about 3 hours to travel about 60 miles. Even though we had a police escort, we still averaged about 20 - 30 mph. I've done that for 4 years (two of those in the rain), and from now on, I'll help with the setup, parking, etc. But when the parade starts, I'll head directly to the destination to help there. I'll leave the looonnngggg, sloowww ride to others.
The other big event that has recently happened, was my 46th birthday. A few years ago, birthdays didn't mean much to me. All of a sudden, this birthday meant I made it one more year after being diagnosed with cancer. Birthdays have taken on a new meaning to me, and this one was celebrated enjoying good friends and good times. I plan on having many more.
Last year on July 4th, Roni and I went for a long motorcycle ride before going to a friend's house for a BBQ. It was a great day. The only bad thing was that the next day, I would be heading to Washington DC for a major abdominal operation. This year, we went to the same friend's house on July 3rd for the BBQ (and to look at pics of Israel). On July 4th, Roni and I again went for a long ride (about 160 miles). We rode through CT, and some some of the back roads of NY State. It was a great day to go riding, and although we both arrived home tired and sore, we had a great time.
And that brings us back to today, one year after my last surgery, and a week before my next blood test... That's one thing about cancer, even when you're given the "all clear", you're still never sure...
I'll let you know what the results are when I get them.
Jump ahead one year. Today I am doing much better. Still not 100%, but getting better all the time.
Of course, the surgery was not the last thing to do with this disease. I still have tests to take to make sure that the cancer doesn't come back. The next test will be a tumor marker blood test. I'm scheduled to have it done July 13th at 10:30 AM. At that time, I will also schedule my next CT scan. Prayers for both of these events would be greatly appreciated. Right now I'm not nervous about them, but I am sure as the time gets closer, the fear of "recurrence" will start to raise its ugly head.
Now, back to the story...
In the last post, I talked about our trip to Israel. After we returned, we had a few days to recover, then on Friday, May 27th, I left NYC and headed to Washington DC. Not for an operation, or even a doctor's appointment, but for one of my favorite events, "Rolling Thunder". Rolling Thunder is a demonstration or "protest" if you will, to remember the POW/MIA issue, and to never forget those who never came home from war. It is a large gathering of motorcycles and veterans, with approx 500,000 motorcycles descending on the Pentagon's north parking lot Sunday morning, May 29th. A parade then begins at 12 noon and continues until late afternoon while hundreds of thousands of motorcycles snake through Washington DC, with thousands of people lining the route waving, yelling, waving flags, etc. It is always a very patriotic, moving experience.
After the parade, the group I was with (New York City Harleys Owner Group, or NYCHOG) left DC and started the long trek back to NYC. I finally pulled up to my apt about 11:30 PM, tired and sore, but looking forward to doing it again next year.
The next Sunday, June 5th, was the annual Bikers Against Breast Cancer run that we do every year. This is hosted by our HOG chapter (again, NYCHOG), and because it was a warm, sunny day, we had a good turnout. There was well over 1,000 bikes and that meant even more people registered for the ride. It is always for a great cause, but this is the last year that I will actually "ride" in the parade. Why? you ask. Well, with about 1,000 bikes, it takes about 3 hours to travel about 60 miles. Even though we had a police escort, we still averaged about 20 - 30 mph. I've done that for 4 years (two of those in the rain), and from now on, I'll help with the setup, parking, etc. But when the parade starts, I'll head directly to the destination to help there. I'll leave the looonnngggg, sloowww ride to others.
The other big event that has recently happened, was my 46th birthday. A few years ago, birthdays didn't mean much to me. All of a sudden, this birthday meant I made it one more year after being diagnosed with cancer. Birthdays have taken on a new meaning to me, and this one was celebrated enjoying good friends and good times. I plan on having many more.
Last year on July 4th, Roni and I went for a long motorcycle ride before going to a friend's house for a BBQ. It was a great day. The only bad thing was that the next day, I would be heading to Washington DC for a major abdominal operation. This year, we went to the same friend's house on July 3rd for the BBQ (and to look at pics of Israel). On July 4th, Roni and I again went for a long ride (about 160 miles). We rode through CT, and some some of the back roads of NY State. It was a great day to go riding, and although we both arrived home tired and sore, we had a great time.
And that brings us back to today, one year after my last surgery, and a week before my next blood test... That's one thing about cancer, even when you're given the "all clear", you're still never sure...
I'll let you know what the results are when I get them.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Catching Up - Israel - Long Post
OK, I know it has been a long time since I have updated my blog. Last you heard, Roni and I were heading to Israel. Well, as you can tell, we made it back safe and sound. So, now it is time to catch you up on the trip and what we have been doing since.
First of all, my health.
I continue to get better. It is still a long process and some days are better than others. Fortunately, I have am having more and more "good" days. Good days are where I only have to go the bathroom about 4 times a day instead of 6-8 on bad days. This is a lot better than when I started recovery from my last surgery, where I would have to go about 10-15 times a day with a lot of diarrhea, I know "TMI" (too much info). But it is all part of the process of healing from cancer, three major abdominal surgeries (two with chemo), 4 rounds of chemo, 9 months of an ileostomy and having about 4 feet of small intestines and about a third of my colon removed.
So, all in all, I'm doing OK. Not quite 100%, but getting there. I'd say I'm about 80-85%. I have to contact my oncologist soon as next month I need to schedule my next blood tumor marker tests and my next CT scan. Prayers for those upcoming events would be greatly appreciated.
Now for Israel. (Click on the "Day" links for pictures from that day.)
Day 1 - Saturday
We left late Sat night on May 14th. Our flight wasn't scheduled to leave till 11:50 PM, but we wanted to make sure we got there in plenty of time to get through security (El Al has its own security that you must pass before you go through the TSA security), get our boarding passes and have some time to relax before boarding. The flight actually left about a half hour late, but soon we were on our way.
Day 2 - Sunday
We landed at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv about 5:30 PM on May 15th. After getting our luggage and waiting for some return flight details to be worked out, we finally boarded our bus for Jerusalem around 7 PM. I was hoping to leave earlier so we would have more daylight on the bus ride to Jerusalem, but we were able to see the wrecks left along the side of the road. The deal with these wrecks is that they were armored cars that were used to bring supplies to Jerusalem during the War of Independence in 1948. Many convoys were ambushed and many cars were destroyed and the people killed trying to save the Jews in Jerusalem. These wrecks were left on the side of the road as reminders and memorials.
We arrived at our hotel (the Mount Zion Hotel) around 8 or 8:30 PM. We were all very hungry as we hadn't had much to eat since they fed us breakfast on the plane. Fortunately, dinner was part of our package, and they left the dining room open so we could get something to eat.
After a meal (which, by the way, was very good), checking in and unpacking, I think we all crashed around 10 PM. None of us really slept well on the plane, so finally being able to stretch out on a bed was a treat. Thus, we spent our first night in Israel.
Day 3 - Monday
We woke up Monday morning, took showers, got dressed and headed down to breakfast. Today was one of the main reasons we came to Israel. It was Ari Cohen's Bar Mitzvah, and it was to be held at the Western Wall (also know as the Wailing Wall, or just The Wall, in Hebrew, HaKotel).
After all had eaten, we loaded up on our bus and headed to the Old City of Jerusalem. We entered through the "Dung Gate" (this is the gate they used to through the garbage out of) and walked to the Wall.
The Bar Mitzvah started about 11 AM and one amazing thing is that we were not the only Messianic synagogue holding a Bar Mitzvah that day. It turns out that the local congregation was also holding a Bar Mitzvah, and it happened to be right next to us. We did not know they were going to be there, and they did not know we were going to be there. But there we were, NY and Jerusalem, side by side.
The Bar Mitzvah was a very moving experience for all there. The weather was perfect (although I did get sunburn on the top of my head), the fellowship was great and the atmosphere was spectacular. The only downside were the people there who felt it was their job to observe and make sure we were doing things correctly, and the people who took the opportunity to seek (beg for) donations (money).
After the Bar Mitzvah, we headed back to the hotel for the reception and lunch. About half way into the reception, the Rabbi told everybody to get ready for a surprise. About minutes later, Ari (the Bar Mitzvah boy) came riding into the area on a camel. The Rabbi had arranged for a local Arab to give Ari a ride and soon, everybody wanted to give it a try.
After the reception, we all headed inside to change and rest. Roni was pretty tired and decided to take a nap. I went with some others, first to the old city for a quick cup of tea, then on into the new city, to Ben Yehuda street. After a quick look around, we headed home for dinner.
Day 4 - Tuesday
Tuesday morning we woke up, ate breakfast, then got on the bus for a short trip to tour the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. The Jewish Quarter is more modern than the rest of the Old City. In 1948 most of it was destroyed by the Jordanian Arab Legion after the Jewish residents for forced to leave. While the cease fire agreement between Israel and Jordan allowed for Jews to visit the Western Wall, Jews were never allowed to enter the Old City until it was liberated in June of 1967 during the 6 Day War. When the Jews returned, they found their synagogues destroyed, shops and houses looted and burned and the place a mess. Since 1967, Israel has rebuilt the Jewish Quarter and therefore it looks newer than the rest of the Old City.,
We entered through Zion Gate, the gate the Israel army entered to retake the city in 1967. You can still see the bullet holes in the walls from the gun fire. From there we made our way to the Cardo, and ancient Roman road, which was discovered on an ancient map of Jerusalem. The road has been excavated and some of the pillars restored. The road also leads into a shopping district, which we all spent a couple of hours in looking around and shopping.
We eventually made our way back outside of the city walls to a new archeological park, that was only opened up in the past few years. The amazing thing about this excavation is that they have uncovered the actual southern steps that led up to the Second Temple. These are the same steps that Yeshua (Jesus) taught on. We also saw the archways for the entrance and exit to the temple (these are currently blocked off). It was quite a treat as none of us that had been to Israel before ever saw these sites.
We eventually left the Old City and headed back to the hotel to rest and eat dinner.
Day 5 - Wednesday
Wednesday morning we again woke, dressed (for warm weather), ate breakfast and got on the bus. This day we were to head south. First stop - Ein Gedi.
Ein Gedi is the place where David had the chance to kill King Saul but didn't. He only cut off part of his garment while sleeping, then when he was far enough of away, called to King Saul to let him know what he did. Apart from the historical aspect, Ein Gedi was a beautiful oasis in the Judean wilderness. It was amazing driving through desert and then coming upon this cool, refreshing waterfall and pool. And since we had a pool of water, the Rabbi took the opportunity to perform a t'fillah service (mikva) for Ari (his son) and another lady in our synagogue.
Our next stop for the day was the fortress of Masada. This was the last holdout of Jewish zealots against the Roman army. They held off the Roman army for quite awhile, but when they realized they would not be able to hold off another day, the evening before the Romans were to break through, they committed a mass killing, so that none of them would be taken alive. You can read a little of the story here.
One of the special things that happened during our visit to Masada, was an impromptu wedding. A couple in our synagogue had only ever had a civil ceremony, and this was about 10 years ago. They had wanted a religious ceremony and Masada seemed like a good place to have it. So we schlepped a few tallits, our kippot (yarmulkas) and in the ancient ruins of the synagogue on Masada, we held a Jewish wedding for the couple. It certainly wasn't very formal (as we were all in tshirts and shorts) and there was no fancy reception, but it was one of the neatest weddings I have ever been to.
After leaving Masada, we headed to a spa on the Dead Sea. We needed some relaxation and Dead Sea is the place to do it. First, some of us soaked in a sulfur bath. Sure, it didn't smell that great, but it sure felt good. From there, we had a quick dip in a regular pool to cool off, then it was off to float and soak in the salty waters. While the ocean has a salt content of about 3%, the Dead Sea has a salt content of about 33%. This is what makes it possible to easily float in the water. The mud of the dead sea is rumored to be beneficial to the skin, so many caked their bodies with mud either before or after soaking in the Dead Sea.
Soon it was time to go, so we all went back to the lockers, took showers and headed back to Jerusalem.
Day 6 - Thursday
Thursday morning, after breakfast, we got on the bus and headed for the Mount of Olives. The view from this mountain is amazing and is one you usually see of the city of Jerusalem. A few things are easily spotted from this position. 1) The Dome of the Rock - This is Islam's third holiest site and stands on the Temple Mount, that is, where the second Temple stood. This is not a mosque per se. There is a giant rock in this building and this rock is where tradition says Abraham bound Isaac to sacrifice him. The Muslims believe it was Ishmael that Abraham went to sacrifice.
Another item of note is the sealed double gate on the eastern wall of the Old City. A couple of interesting things about this gate, 1) the Muslims believe this is the gate the Messiah was to go through to enter Jerusalem. That is why a) they sealed it and b) put a graveyard in front of it (believing that the Messiah would not walk on the dead). Their goal was to keep the Messiah from entering the city.
Looking down the mountain, you see a Jewish graveyard. This is an ancient graveyard dating back thousands of years. We spent an hour or so on the Mount of Olives enjoying the view and taking pictures. Then it was time to head out to our next destination.
You can't go to Israel without visiting a kibbutz and we visited Kibbutz Palmach Tzubah. This kibbutz was established around the time of the War of Independence by members of the Palmach. The Palmach was the "strike force" of the Hagana, the unofficial army of the Jews. One of the reasons we went to visit this kibbutz was because our rabbi knew one of the official founders of the kibbutz, Ya'akov Pozner.
Ya'akov took us on a guided tour of the kibbutz, which not only had agricultural products, but also made bullet proof glass for the Israeli army and security forces. Another treat we had was a question and answer session with Ya'akov. It's not every day when you get to talk to someone who fought in the War of Independence for Israel (Ya'akov fought in the Negev, on horseback).
Late in the afternoon, it was finally time to head back to the hotel, where we all took a nap, showered and got ready for a special party at the King David Hotel. The party was for our Rabbi who had just recently celebrated his 50th birthday. This was the "official" party and his wife and friends did a great job of organizing a wonderful night for all to remember.
Day 7 - Friday
Friday was our day off, for us to do whatever we wanted.
After breakfast, Roni and I decided to go visit the Old City by ourselves and I wanted to show the places I used to go when I was last in Israel (1986). Unfortunately, this day would not be a "good" one for me. While some days, I was able to go quite awhile without having to visit the loo, today was not one of those days. We walked to the old city and entered through Jaffa Gate. As soon as we got there, I had to go to the bathroom. Fortunately, the public bathrooms in the Old City are quite acceptable. Which was good for me, because I had to go about 4 times within an hour and a half.
We walked through the shouk (the Arab market), did some "window" shopping and tried to ignore the shop owners trying to get us to come into their shop. Yes, they can be quite pushy. We eventually made our way back to the Western Wall (haKotel) and took a few minutes to reflect on our trip, say a quick prayer and enjoy the experience. There is one thing that I did NOT enjoy about the "Wall". There are people who are there only to get people to give them money. One guy inparticular used this approach. He would come up to a visitor to the wall and offer to "bless" them. If they seemed to resist, he would push or pull them towards the Wall, where he would then place his hand on there head and start praying, usually for them to find a wife. Once done, he would then ask for a donation. I didn't hear what he told them, but he kept bugging them enough until they finally gave him some money. If it wasn't enough, he would let them know. It is people like that Yeshua (Jesus) would have driven out of the Temple. And they would have deserved it. In my opinion, they ruined the experience for many people.
After awhile, I wasn't feeling very good so we decided to head back to the hotel. We went to get a cab, and I realized again that many people are out to rip you off. We got in the cab and when the driver didn't start the meter, I asked how much. He said 25 shekels (that would be over $6). It wasn't that far to the hotel and I told him that was too much and that I would only pay 10 shekels. He said no and dropped it down to 20. I didn't feel like arguing and since it was hot, and up-hill, I agreed.
Later that day, we all met and as a group, we had a shabbat dinner in a beautiful room on the hotel grounds. Friday night is known as Kabbalat Shabbat and we spent it eating delicious food, singing shabbat songs and dancing. The way Shabbat should be welcomed.
Day 8 - Saturday
Some of our group got up early and attended services at a local conservative synagogue. Some of us (namely me and Roni), took this opportunity to sleep in. Which we did.
We spent the morning packing and getting ready to leave. In the afternoon, we boarded the bus again, this time with all of our luggage and headed towards Tel Aviv. The drive is about an hour's drive and it went smoothly. When we got to Tel Aviv, we just drove through it so we could see Dizengoff Street (the Main street of Tel Aviv), then made our way to Yafo.
Yafo is an ancient city. It is the city that Jonah left from to go to escape having to go to Nineveh. We spent the afternoon walking through the ancient street and looking at the shops that are now inhabited by artisans.
In the evening, we had dinner as a group, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. About 9:30 PM it was time to get back on the bus and head towards the airport.
We got to the airport about 3 hours before our flight, which is requested by El Al so you can go through their security and the airport's security. We also had to exchange our shekels back to US dollars and get our VAT refund. We all made it through with little problems, although some of us were cutting it pretty close. Our flight finally left about 1:30 AM.
Again, it was a very looonnnggg flight (about 10 hours) with no leg room and not being able to sleep. But we made it to JFK about 5:30 AM (local time). Got our luggage, caught a cab and finally got home about 7 AM. Exhausted. But we had a great time and can't wait to go again.
Kevin
First of all, my health.
I continue to get better. It is still a long process and some days are better than others. Fortunately, I have am having more and more "good" days. Good days are where I only have to go the bathroom about 4 times a day instead of 6-8 on bad days. This is a lot better than when I started recovery from my last surgery, where I would have to go about 10-15 times a day with a lot of diarrhea, I know "TMI" (too much info). But it is all part of the process of healing from cancer, three major abdominal surgeries (two with chemo), 4 rounds of chemo, 9 months of an ileostomy and having about 4 feet of small intestines and about a third of my colon removed.
So, all in all, I'm doing OK. Not quite 100%, but getting there. I'd say I'm about 80-85%. I have to contact my oncologist soon as next month I need to schedule my next blood tumor marker tests and my next CT scan. Prayers for those upcoming events would be greatly appreciated.
Now for Israel. (Click on the "Day" links for pictures from that day.)
Day 1 - Saturday
We left late Sat night on May 14th. Our flight wasn't scheduled to leave till 11:50 PM, but we wanted to make sure we got there in plenty of time to get through security (El Al has its own security that you must pass before you go through the TSA security), get our boarding passes and have some time to relax before boarding. The flight actually left about a half hour late, but soon we were on our way.
Day 2 - Sunday
We landed at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv about 5:30 PM on May 15th. After getting our luggage and waiting for some return flight details to be worked out, we finally boarded our bus for Jerusalem around 7 PM. I was hoping to leave earlier so we would have more daylight on the bus ride to Jerusalem, but we were able to see the wrecks left along the side of the road. The deal with these wrecks is that they were armored cars that were used to bring supplies to Jerusalem during the War of Independence in 1948. Many convoys were ambushed and many cars were destroyed and the people killed trying to save the Jews in Jerusalem. These wrecks were left on the side of the road as reminders and memorials.
We arrived at our hotel (the Mount Zion Hotel) around 8 or 8:30 PM. We were all very hungry as we hadn't had much to eat since they fed us breakfast on the plane. Fortunately, dinner was part of our package, and they left the dining room open so we could get something to eat.
After a meal (which, by the way, was very good), checking in and unpacking, I think we all crashed around 10 PM. None of us really slept well on the plane, so finally being able to stretch out on a bed was a treat. Thus, we spent our first night in Israel.
Day 3 - Monday
We woke up Monday morning, took showers, got dressed and headed down to breakfast. Today was one of the main reasons we came to Israel. It was Ari Cohen's Bar Mitzvah, and it was to be held at the Western Wall (also know as the Wailing Wall, or just The Wall, in Hebrew, HaKotel).
After all had eaten, we loaded up on our bus and headed to the Old City of Jerusalem. We entered through the "Dung Gate" (this is the gate they used to through the garbage out of) and walked to the Wall.
The Bar Mitzvah started about 11 AM and one amazing thing is that we were not the only Messianic synagogue holding a Bar Mitzvah that day. It turns out that the local congregation was also holding a Bar Mitzvah, and it happened to be right next to us. We did not know they were going to be there, and they did not know we were going to be there. But there we were, NY and Jerusalem, side by side.
The Bar Mitzvah was a very moving experience for all there. The weather was perfect (although I did get sunburn on the top of my head), the fellowship was great and the atmosphere was spectacular. The only downside were the people there who felt it was their job to observe and make sure we were doing things correctly, and the people who took the opportunity to seek (beg for) donations (money).
After the Bar Mitzvah, we headed back to the hotel for the reception and lunch. About half way into the reception, the Rabbi told everybody to get ready for a surprise. About minutes later, Ari (the Bar Mitzvah boy) came riding into the area on a camel. The Rabbi had arranged for a local Arab to give Ari a ride and soon, everybody wanted to give it a try.
After the reception, we all headed inside to change and rest. Roni was pretty tired and decided to take a nap. I went with some others, first to the old city for a quick cup of tea, then on into the new city, to Ben Yehuda street. After a quick look around, we headed home for dinner.
Day 4 - Tuesday
Tuesday morning we woke up, ate breakfast, then got on the bus for a short trip to tour the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. The Jewish Quarter is more modern than the rest of the Old City. In 1948 most of it was destroyed by the Jordanian Arab Legion after the Jewish residents for forced to leave. While the cease fire agreement between Israel and Jordan allowed for Jews to visit the Western Wall, Jews were never allowed to enter the Old City until it was liberated in June of 1967 during the 6 Day War. When the Jews returned, they found their synagogues destroyed, shops and houses looted and burned and the place a mess. Since 1967, Israel has rebuilt the Jewish Quarter and therefore it looks newer than the rest of the Old City.,
We entered through Zion Gate, the gate the Israel army entered to retake the city in 1967. You can still see the bullet holes in the walls from the gun fire. From there we made our way to the Cardo, and ancient Roman road, which was discovered on an ancient map of Jerusalem. The road has been excavated and some of the pillars restored. The road also leads into a shopping district, which we all spent a couple of hours in looking around and shopping.
We eventually made our way back outside of the city walls to a new archeological park, that was only opened up in the past few years. The amazing thing about this excavation is that they have uncovered the actual southern steps that led up to the Second Temple. These are the same steps that Yeshua (Jesus) taught on. We also saw the archways for the entrance and exit to the temple (these are currently blocked off). It was quite a treat as none of us that had been to Israel before ever saw these sites.
We eventually left the Old City and headed back to the hotel to rest and eat dinner.
Day 5 - Wednesday
Wednesday morning we again woke, dressed (for warm weather), ate breakfast and got on the bus. This day we were to head south. First stop - Ein Gedi.
Ein Gedi is the place where David had the chance to kill King Saul but didn't. He only cut off part of his garment while sleeping, then when he was far enough of away, called to King Saul to let him know what he did. Apart from the historical aspect, Ein Gedi was a beautiful oasis in the Judean wilderness. It was amazing driving through desert and then coming upon this cool, refreshing waterfall and pool. And since we had a pool of water, the Rabbi took the opportunity to perform a t'fillah service (mikva) for Ari (his son) and another lady in our synagogue.
Our next stop for the day was the fortress of Masada. This was the last holdout of Jewish zealots against the Roman army. They held off the Roman army for quite awhile, but when they realized they would not be able to hold off another day, the evening before the Romans were to break through, they committed a mass killing, so that none of them would be taken alive. You can read a little of the story here.
One of the special things that happened during our visit to Masada, was an impromptu wedding. A couple in our synagogue had only ever had a civil ceremony, and this was about 10 years ago. They had wanted a religious ceremony and Masada seemed like a good place to have it. So we schlepped a few tallits, our kippot (yarmulkas) and in the ancient ruins of the synagogue on Masada, we held a Jewish wedding for the couple. It certainly wasn't very formal (as we were all in tshirts and shorts) and there was no fancy reception, but it was one of the neatest weddings I have ever been to.
After leaving Masada, we headed to a spa on the Dead Sea. We needed some relaxation and Dead Sea is the place to do it. First, some of us soaked in a sulfur bath. Sure, it didn't smell that great, but it sure felt good. From there, we had a quick dip in a regular pool to cool off, then it was off to float and soak in the salty waters. While the ocean has a salt content of about 3%, the Dead Sea has a salt content of about 33%. This is what makes it possible to easily float in the water. The mud of the dead sea is rumored to be beneficial to the skin, so many caked their bodies with mud either before or after soaking in the Dead Sea.
Soon it was time to go, so we all went back to the lockers, took showers and headed back to Jerusalem.
Day 6 - Thursday
Thursday morning, after breakfast, we got on the bus and headed for the Mount of Olives. The view from this mountain is amazing and is one you usually see of the city of Jerusalem. A few things are easily spotted from this position. 1) The Dome of the Rock - This is Islam's third holiest site and stands on the Temple Mount, that is, where the second Temple stood. This is not a mosque per se. There is a giant rock in this building and this rock is where tradition says Abraham bound Isaac to sacrifice him. The Muslims believe it was Ishmael that Abraham went to sacrifice.
Another item of note is the sealed double gate on the eastern wall of the Old City. A couple of interesting things about this gate, 1) the Muslims believe this is the gate the Messiah was to go through to enter Jerusalem. That is why a) they sealed it and b) put a graveyard in front of it (believing that the Messiah would not walk on the dead). Their goal was to keep the Messiah from entering the city.
Looking down the mountain, you see a Jewish graveyard. This is an ancient graveyard dating back thousands of years. We spent an hour or so on the Mount of Olives enjoying the view and taking pictures. Then it was time to head out to our next destination.
You can't go to Israel without visiting a kibbutz and we visited Kibbutz Palmach Tzubah. This kibbutz was established around the time of the War of Independence by members of the Palmach. The Palmach was the "strike force" of the Hagana, the unofficial army of the Jews. One of the reasons we went to visit this kibbutz was because our rabbi knew one of the official founders of the kibbutz, Ya'akov Pozner.
Ya'akov took us on a guided tour of the kibbutz, which not only had agricultural products, but also made bullet proof glass for the Israeli army and security forces. Another treat we had was a question and answer session with Ya'akov. It's not every day when you get to talk to someone who fought in the War of Independence for Israel (Ya'akov fought in the Negev, on horseback).
Late in the afternoon, it was finally time to head back to the hotel, where we all took a nap, showered and got ready for a special party at the King David Hotel. The party was for our Rabbi who had just recently celebrated his 50th birthday. This was the "official" party and his wife and friends did a great job of organizing a wonderful night for all to remember.
Day 7 - Friday
Friday was our day off, for us to do whatever we wanted.
After breakfast, Roni and I decided to go visit the Old City by ourselves and I wanted to show the places I used to go when I was last in Israel (1986). Unfortunately, this day would not be a "good" one for me. While some days, I was able to go quite awhile without having to visit the loo, today was not one of those days. We walked to the old city and entered through Jaffa Gate. As soon as we got there, I had to go to the bathroom. Fortunately, the public bathrooms in the Old City are quite acceptable. Which was good for me, because I had to go about 4 times within an hour and a half.
We walked through the shouk (the Arab market), did some "window" shopping and tried to ignore the shop owners trying to get us to come into their shop. Yes, they can be quite pushy. We eventually made our way back to the Western Wall (haKotel) and took a few minutes to reflect on our trip, say a quick prayer and enjoy the experience. There is one thing that I did NOT enjoy about the "Wall". There are people who are there only to get people to give them money. One guy inparticular used this approach. He would come up to a visitor to the wall and offer to "bless" them. If they seemed to resist, he would push or pull them towards the Wall, where he would then place his hand on there head and start praying, usually for them to find a wife. Once done, he would then ask for a donation. I didn't hear what he told them, but he kept bugging them enough until they finally gave him some money. If it wasn't enough, he would let them know. It is people like that Yeshua (Jesus) would have driven out of the Temple. And they would have deserved it. In my opinion, they ruined the experience for many people.
After awhile, I wasn't feeling very good so we decided to head back to the hotel. We went to get a cab, and I realized again that many people are out to rip you off. We got in the cab and when the driver didn't start the meter, I asked how much. He said 25 shekels (that would be over $6). It wasn't that far to the hotel and I told him that was too much and that I would only pay 10 shekels. He said no and dropped it down to 20. I didn't feel like arguing and since it was hot, and up-hill, I agreed.
Later that day, we all met and as a group, we had a shabbat dinner in a beautiful room on the hotel grounds. Friday night is known as Kabbalat Shabbat and we spent it eating delicious food, singing shabbat songs and dancing. The way Shabbat should be welcomed.
Day 8 - Saturday
Some of our group got up early and attended services at a local conservative synagogue. Some of us (namely me and Roni), took this opportunity to sleep in. Which we did.
We spent the morning packing and getting ready to leave. In the afternoon, we boarded the bus again, this time with all of our luggage and headed towards Tel Aviv. The drive is about an hour's drive and it went smoothly. When we got to Tel Aviv, we just drove through it so we could see Dizengoff Street (the Main street of Tel Aviv), then made our way to Yafo.
Yafo is an ancient city. It is the city that Jonah left from to go to escape having to go to Nineveh. We spent the afternoon walking through the ancient street and looking at the shops that are now inhabited by artisans.
In the evening, we had dinner as a group, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. About 9:30 PM it was time to get back on the bus and head towards the airport.
We got to the airport about 3 hours before our flight, which is requested by El Al so you can go through their security and the airport's security. We also had to exchange our shekels back to US dollars and get our VAT refund. We all made it through with little problems, although some of us were cutting it pretty close. Our flight finally left about 1:30 AM.
Again, it was a very looonnnggg flight (about 10 hours) with no leg room and not being able to sleep. But we made it to JFK about 5:30 AM (local time). Got our luggage, caught a cab and finally got home about 7 AM. Exhausted. But we had a great time and can't wait to go again.
Kevin
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