Fighting Cancer at a Winery

This Saturday, the Stuytown Six took a trip to the North Fork wineries in Long Island. Jordan couldn’t join us but we made sure to drink an extra glass in his honor.

While Manhattan had been rainy and gloomy all week, the North Fork brought exactly what we needed - fresh air, plenty of sunshine and large open space that immediately put us at ease. We kicked things off with a tasting at Macari Vineyards before also visiting Lieb Cellars, McCall Wines and the Greenpoint Harbor Brewery. I’m by no means an expert wine drinker, but my wife was raised in SF and grew up around wine country. She tends to enjoy a glass or two each night and has helped me develop a more refined palate over time. And even better, our friend Tracy, who we consider our unofficial sommelier, helped me pick out healthier wine options. (See Tracy’s tips at the end of the post.)

Now my plan for the day was simple; I had it all mapped out and packed my vitamins, veggies and other go-to snacks. I pictured a day of relaxation and moderate wine drinking, while eating well and sticking to my usual health regimens.

And then I saw that damn pizza. Outside by the tables, Macari has a wood-fired pizza truck that only uses fresh and local ingredients. These pies are made with love and for the first time in almost two years, I said screw it. We ordered a few pies for the table and didn’t look back. I ate with a vengeance, every bite living up to the expectations of ultimate satisfaction.

Once the indulgent tone was set, I followed suit the rest of the day, snacking on salami, prosciutto, and fries later at the brewery. I never did take my supplements and barely touched the veggies.

Big deal, I know. This shouldn’t be notable except in my head it felt significant. There is so little I can control battling cancer and the anxiety comes out as pressure to avoid anything that might feed those cells or lead to disease. But part of me just wanted to feel normal again. Part of me wanted to rebel against the rigidity. And another part needed to prove that the world wouldn’t end because when statistics point to a less than 10% survival rate, that concern is a little too real.

I often feel caught in the middle. If I try loosening up, I hear the little voice in my head wondering how I could eat this or that after everything I’ve read. Then, when I choose the more conservative route I feel bad for not going with the flow of a moment, especially in group activities. If only there was an official cancer playbook.

Despite the emotional tug-o-war, I was comfortable with my decisions. Life went on and most importantly, it was great to see Kori in her happy place, beaming ear to ear. An escape from our problems with people we love and quality wine is all the girl asks for every now and then. And she damn well deserves it.

Laying in bed that night, my mind replayed highlights from the day. It wasn’t long ago I was emotionally destroyed and recovering from surgery to remove yet another tumor. I remember how difficult it was to find even a morsel of joy at that point. In fact, that was my goal at the time, to seek out a single moment of joy, laughter or gratitude each day.

You’d better believe I’m gonna appreciate the good times when they come back around.

Stuytown Six: Me, Kori (wife), Jaime (sister), Steph (sister-in-law) and Dan (brother-in-law). We all live in the same neighborhood in Manhattan. Jordan (Jaime’s fiancé) couldn’t make this one.

Tracy’s Starter Tips to Healthier Wine: (Instagram: @Norhforkd)

Look for Organic, Biodynamic or Natural Wines - Less likely to have pesticides, additives and other random crap. Wine makers are proud to share and advertise these practices on the label.

Learn to Decode a Wine Label - The more geographic information on a label the better. If a bottle reads "Wine from California" it is more likely blended from random grapes, and can be grown literally anywhere in California under any conditions. But when it says “Made by Failla in USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Keefer Ranch during XX year” you’ll have a good idea of what’s inside.

Ask for Help - The easiest way to find healthy wine on a budget is to WALK INTO A WINE SHOP and ask questions. When you make friends in the right shop, the experts want to know what your wine needs are. Do you need a Barolo for an Italian night in? A Rosé for summer. If you explain what you're looking for and your budget, the folks will accept the challenge of finding you the least manipulated wine for your money. In New York, I like Frankly Wines.