The Times They Are A-Changin’

 

The Times They Are A-Changin’

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for October 18, 2026

It's hard to believe summer is already gone. The trees are putting on their annual spectacular show of colors, which is beautiful until you remember what happens next. All those leaves fall off, everything turns brown, and winter comes stomping in like an uninvited houseguest who refuses to leave for six months. I've always struggled a bit with Seasonal Affective Disorder, but this year I'm trying to focus on the positive side of change. Change can be good. Sometimes it's necessary. 

We've been trying to squeeze in more weekend hikes while the weather is still nice enough to enjoy being outside. Pretty soon, a simple walk will require dressing like we're heading out on an Arctic expedition. Thermal underwear, three layers of clothing, boots rated for temperatures no human should voluntarily experience, and a parka thick enough to survive a polar bear attack. All that preparation just to walk around a Minnesota park and look at some frozen ducks. I can hardly wait.

I spent a good chunk of this week at Mayo Clinic getting poked, prodded, scanned, and tortured on a stress echo test. The good news? My aortic aneurysm hasn't grown in the past couple of years, which is a huge relief! The less exciting news is that my chest abnormalities, which I've had since birth, are limiting my breathing more than I ever realized. I managed just 51% of my expected exercise performance. Apparently, I've been playing the game of life with a much bigger disadvantage than I realized. Wonderful. Another obstacle to add to my collection! But my cardiologist, Dr. Coutinho, offered some encouraging perspective: what I'm dealing with is more annoying than life-threatening. I've got some changes to make to improve my breathing and quality of life, and I'm determined to make them. I've overcome plenty of obstacles before. No reason to stop now!

One of the highlights of the week was hanging out with our buddy Orlando a couple of times, including dinner Thursday night at the Copper Pint. We always manage to have fascinating conversations about the most obscure topics imaginable. Somehow we can go from world affairs to artificial intelligence to something neither of us knew existed five minutes earlier. His wife Nancy was supposed to join us, but unfortunately wasn't feeling well. So it was just Miss Sheri, me, and the Big O. Which sounds like the title of a movie that would get us banned from several respectable establishments.

We had Grandma Linda over for breakfast pastries and a trip down memory lane, digging up stories from my childhood that probably should have stayed buried. It's fascinating hearing your life story from the woman who witnessed it all, especially the parts you've conveniently forgotten. At 83, Mom still has plenty of stories to tell, and I'm realizing how lucky I am to hear them. Turns out some of life's greatest treasures are the memories we share with the people we love. Even if they remember you being a little shit.