A Thaw in the Tundra

 

A Thaw in the Tundra

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for February 23, 2025

We had a tough week at the Swank household—Miss Sheri’s mom, Leona, passed away. She was 93, so it wasn’t exactly shocking, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t hit hard. No matter how much you prepare yourself, losing someone who has always been there still feels unreal. One day, they’re just part of your world, and the next, there’s a space that can’t be filled. While we know she’s reunited with Sheri’s dad—probably at some kind of eternal Polka dance with all their old friends—it doesn’t make saying goodbye any easier. She was loved, she will be missed, and her kindness will never be forgotten.

Of course, work was already a whirlwind—I had just landed in Chicago for a full day of customer meetings when I got the news. Because naturally, life waits for the exact moment you’re crammed in the back of an Uber, mentally prepping for a big discussion, to remind you what actually matters.

I managed to see Miss Sheri for about five minutes before hopping back on a plane to Houston, hoping for a break from the Arctic punishment of Minneapolis and Chicago. But Texas had other plans—30 degrees, cold, windy, and just enough rain to remind me that sometimes, even the weather is in on the joke.

Friday night, we had a chance to sit down with Grandma Linda, Luke, Avery, and Abby for dinner—because apparently, life moves so fast we now need to schedule quality time like we’re booking a dentist appointment. But once we were all together, it was great catching up and reminding ourselves that face-to-face conversations still exist.

The kids were incredibly thoughtful in honoring Miss Sheri’s mom. Abby gets all the credit for the beautiful flowers, but the boys did their part too, offering big hugs and some heartfelt words to their mom. In the end, it’s family that matters most.

After dinner, everyone was ready to head their separate ways, but when I reminded the kids it was Blue’s 10th birthday, they immediately rerouted for a celebration. Can’t believe he’s 10—officially a senior citizen in dog years. At this point, he’s earned the right to take up the whole couch, judge us silently, and demand extra treats just for existing.

Blue’s birthday tradition used to involve a homemade blueberry muffin, lovingly baked by Miss Sheri, but with all the chaos this year, we grabbed one from the store instead. Big mistake. Turns out, Blue has a refined palate—or at least a stomach that violently rejects mass-produced pastries. About 30 minutes later, the muffin made a dramatic comeback on the kitchen floor, proving once again that some traditions just shouldn’t be messed with.

Speaking of traditions, we always used to play Sequence when we visited Grandma Leona on the farm, so in her honor, we decided to throw down in a best-of-three battle. Miss Sheri and I came out hot, crushing Game 1 like we actually knew what we were doing. But then, the boys regrouped, took the next two, and left us questioning whether we’d just been hustled in our own house.