A September Wedding to Remember in Iowa

 

A September Wedding to Remember in Iowa

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for September 14, 2025

Luke invited us over for Monday Night Football with his roommates, where the lasagna was hot and the Vikings started ice cold. By the 4th quarter though, JJ McCarthy decided to remind Chicago that he’s not just our QB of the Future, he’s the QB of Right Now. Big comeback, big win, and big hopes for the season. SKOL!

This week threw me a curveball with surgery to blast out some stubborn kidney stones. The pain, the meds, the endless trips to the bathroom—it hasn’t been my idea of a fun time. But I’m bouncing back, and truth is, I’m lucky. I’ve got great doctors, Miss Sheri keeping me in line, and friends fighting battles way tougher than mine. So yeah, it hurts—but I’m blessed.

We spent the weekend in Iowa, which always stirs up old memories for me. I moved to Mason City when I was 7 years old and haven’t been back too often since leaving decades ago. We were really there for a wedding in Hanlontown, but with a few hours to kill Saturday morning we took a drive through my old stomping grounds. Funny how a place can feel both familiar and like another lifetime all at once.

This was home from 3rd through 9th grade—me, my mom, and my two sisters packed into this little house. A lot of wild times happened here. Honestly, when I have childhood nightmares, they usually play out in these rooms. But it wasn’t all bad—there were plenty of good memories too. The place doesn’t look quite the same as I remember, but it’s close enough to stir up a flood of feelings, both the good and the not-so-good.

John Adams Middle School was where I spent 6th through 8th grade, just a few blocks from where I lived. We drove past it this time, and funny enough, everything looks so much smaller than I remembered—especially the distances between places in the neighborhood. Back then it felt huge, but I guess that’s what growing up does. You get bigger, the world shrinks, and the old landmarks turn into quick drive-bys.

I only spent my freshman year at Mason City High before moving to Clear Lake. Back then, we were the Mohawks—a tough, proud mascot that everybody respected. Now they’re the RiverHawks, which sounds like something invented in a boardroom to make everyone feel safe. I never thought “Mohawks” was disrespectful, but apparently, a bird nobody’s ever seen before is less offensive. Whatever it is, I’m still calling them the Mohawks.

This is the ol’ Cannonball 457 in East Park—the same steam engine I used to treat like my personal playground. Back then we climbed all over it, pretending we were stuntmen, spelunkers, daredevils. Yeah, there were plenty of spots that could’ve given you a punctured lung or a lifelong scar—but we didn’t care. Now it’s restored, under shelter, polished up, protected by gates. Pretty sure they’d arrest me for trying the same stunts today. It’s prettier now, but far less dangerous. I kind of miss the danger.

I’ve always been drawn to water, and this stretch of the Winnebago River was one of my favorite spots as a kid. I’d crawl under this bridge and spend hours catching crawfish, frogs, turtles—basically anything slimy enough to freak out my sisters. There’s more graffiti here now, and I may have stumbled across a makeshift bed that wasn’t here in the ’80s, but otherwise it felt the same. For a moment, I was that curious kid again, chasing critters and not a care in the world.

Northwestern Steakhouse is more than just one of my favorite steakhouses—it’s an institution. Started back in 1920 by Tony and Pete (Greek immigrants) to serve tough workers, it still feels like “home” to anyone who waited in line, belt loosened, just to get that filet cooked Greek-style. That filet? It melts in your mouth—olive oil, butter, secret seasoning. Even with reservations, we waited; always do. It looks cleaner now, all polished, but every bite whispers the old stories.

We met up with Ron "Sugarman" Myers, his wife Kristie, and a couple of their kids for dinner. It had been too long, so it felt good to sit down and swap stories over steaks and Greek-style spaghetti. And because we’re gluttons for punishment, we went out for ice cream afterward. By the end of the night our stomachs were stretched to capacity, but the conversation made it more than worth the discomfort.

The whole reason for our trip to Iowa was to celebrate Chris and Kaylea Barragy’s wedding in Hanlontown. It was a gorgeous ceremony on an equally gorgeous day—though I’m not sure anyone expected the thermometer to hit 90 degrees in September. Still, the heat didn’t matter. Two people said “I do,” everyone cheered, and we all walked away reminded that sometimes love really does get the final word.

Scott Barragy was one of my first friends when I moved to Clear Lake, and his family welcomed me into their home countless times in high school. Scott passed away a few years ago, and this was the first time I’d seen his brothers and dad, Joe, in years. We picked up like no time had passed, swapping stories and laughs. It was bittersweet, but I’m so glad we had the chance to reconnect and share that time together.

We had to duck out after dinner, so we didn’t get to close the place down, but it was a joy being there to celebrate with Chris and Kaylea. They’re a great match, and it’s clear they’ve got something strong between them. Wishing them nothing but the best as they start this next chapter—it’s always good to see love winning.

@toddswank A buddy who’s a Bears fan sent me this. Let’s go Vikings!! #bears #vikings #nfl #mondaynightfootball ♬ Monday Night Football (Trap Remix) - Trap Remix Guys

@toddswank JJ McCarthy is excited to get back in the game. #vikings #jump #nfl #mondaynightfootball ♬ Jump Around - House Of Pain

@toddswank That feeling when the Bears thought it would be easy… and the Vikings had other plans ! 😅🏈. #N#NFLVikings #bears ##minnesota#chicago ♬ original sound - SKOL Nation!