November 17, 2024

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Thanksgiving

 


It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Thanksgiving
Todd Swank's Diary Entry for November 17, 2024


Friday night, we gathered with Grandma Linda and the kids at Redstone American Grill for an early Thanksgiving dinner. No turkey—just steaks, laughter, and the kind of moments that remind you how lucky you are to have family to share them with. Sometimes, it’s not about the food on the table but the people around it.

Since we won’t be together for Thanksgiving this year, we had an early celebration to make sure we still got our family time in. As the family grows, coordinating holidays has become more of a juggling act, but Grandma Linda was her usual gracious self about us not being together on the actual day. Honestly, she’ll probably still have a great time without us—and maybe even enjoy a little extra peace and quiet!


Saturday night, we had the honor of celebrating our friend Joyce’s 90th birthday—a remarkable milestone for a truly wonderful lady. It’s inspiring to see someone who’s lived such a full life surrounded by so much love. Meanwhile, I’ll be lucky to hit 70 with my lifestyle choices—too many pizzas, not enough cardio. But hey, on the bright side, I still take the stairs when the elevator’s broken. Living the dream, one step at a time.


Joyce is Tina's mom.  The Zitzewitz family has been a part of our lives for nearly 20 years, ever since our boys first joined Tiger Scouts together. Back then, it was all about Pinewood Derby races, camping in caves, and canoe trips that tested the limits of our sanity and bug spray supply. Through it all, we’ve been lucky to have the Zitzewitz crew along for the ride—always up for an adventure and somehow still willing to hang out with us after two decades. Here’s to friendships built on shared chaos and questionable outdoor survival skills!


We had fun catching up with Troy, Rhonda, and Tom. Troy, our fearless scoutmaster, roped us all into the same pack years ago, sparking countless camping misadventures. I just hope he doesn't still hold a grudge over my “innovative” Pinewood Derby strategies.


Joyce has always shared our love of karaoke, dazzling the room with beautiful classics that make you wonder why music doesn’t sound like that anymore. Of course, half the time I don’t even recognize the songs—probably a side effect of being born a few decades too late to truly appreciate the hits of her heyday. But watching her perform, it’s clear: timeless talent doesn’t need an introduction.


I love singing, but let’s just say my style isn’t for everyone. I lean heavy on the growl and tend to belt out songs like I’m auditioning for a rock opera—loud, dramatic, and completely unapologetic. Miss Sheri was sweating bullets, convinced I’d terrify the crowd. But it must’ve gone alright because one sweet lady even requested I sing What a Wonderful World. Turns out, Louis Armstrong’s growl and mine are practically cousins. Who knew I’d find my karaoke soulmate in a jazz legend?


Avery joined me for the Timberwolves game today. Bit annoying we had to miss most of the Vikings game to be there—because who doesn't love choosing between two hometown teams? Lucky for us, the Vikings were winning when we left and held onto it. So once we confirmed they sealed the deal, we could finally stop obsessively checking our phones and focus on the Wolves. Funny how technology lets you stress over two games at once. But hey, at least we got some quality father-son time—if you count sharing a screen and yelling at it as bonding.


At least we got to see a win. The Wolves trailed nearly the entire game, only to pull off a buzzer-beater thanks to Julius Randle, who apparently saves his best work for the last 0.4 seconds. Devin Booker dropped 44 points and still couldn’t put the Suns over the top—probably because half their team was missing. But hey, a win’s a win, and if this scrappy, sleep-deprived squad can find their rhythm, maybe this season won’t be all heart attacks and late-game miracles. Fingers crossed.


For the second game in a row, I managed to get our picture on the scoreboard during a timeout. It’s such a silly accomplishment, but it brings me an embarrassing amount of joy. Why do I care so much? Probably some lifelong need for attention I should unpack with a therapist. Until then, I’ll keep chasing these scoreboard moments like they’re my personal Super Bowl wins.

@toddswank Timberwolves vs Hornets. 5 baskets in 24 seconds. #nba #minnesota #timberwolves ♬ Rap God - Eminem

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