The Wonder of Time and the Weight of Goodbye

 

The Wonder of Time and the Weight of Goodbye

Todd Swank's Diay Entry for March 2, 2025

This week took us on the difficult journey down to Iowa for Miss Sheri’s mom’s funeral. Leona Haack lived 93 full years, which is about as good of a run as anyone can ask for—but somehow, it still felt like a punch in the gut. We’d just seen her a week before, and she seemed to be doing great, so her passing caught us by surprise. It’s never easy to say goodbye. Through the shock and sadness, we were surrounded by an incredible outpouring of support from family and friends, which was deeply appreciated.

Going through old pictures for the funeral was a trip—so many memories packed into faded prints and worn-out albums. Sheri’s parents were once a force, full of energy and life, and now that they’re both gone, it’s impossible not to feel the sting of time. Her dad passed in 2009, and now this chapter is fully closed. It’s a gut check on just how fast it all moves. If nothing else, it’s a reminder to live like we mean it—laugh louder, love harder, and leave behind something worth remembering. 

The boys and Abby made the trip down to Iowa with us for the service, and Krazy Kory drove up for the visitation. Having them all there meant a lot, especially for Miss Sheri. There’s something about being surrounded by your people during tough times—it doesn’t change the loss, but it makes carrying it a little easier. 

We don’t get nearly as many chances as we used to for a photo of the four of us, so when the opportunity comes, I take it—even if it’s under tough circumstances. No matter what’s going on, spending time with my boys is always a win. They may be all grown up, but they’ll always be the kids who turned our house into a circus, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We used to get together with this crew all the time at the Timmerman Family Reunions—back when potlucks, volleyball, swimming, and go-kart racing at Thunder Road were just part of the tradition. Those reunions haven’t happened in years, but after catching up, it’s clear there’s a lot of interest in bringing them back. Turns out, nobody actually wanted to stop—life just got in the way. Maybe it’s time to dust off the old family rivalry and see who’s still got it on the volleyball court.

We also got to catch up with the Broesder brothers, Jerry and Miss Sheri’s first cousins on their dad’s side. Looking at this picture, I couldn’t help but notice a bit of a family resemblance between the four of them—or maybe it’s just the glasses. Either way, it was great to reconnect and swap stories, proving that no matter how much time passes, family bonds stay strong.

The generosity people showed us was incredible, and now our house is filled with fresh flowers and plants. It’s a beautiful reminder of the support we’ve received—though let’s be honest, Miss Sheri will be the one keeping them alive. If it were up to me, they’d have about a week.

Sunday night, we went to the Timberwolves game to watch them take on the Thunder. Miss Sheri joined me for the event after both of the boys decided an 8:30 PM tip-off was way too late for a school night (translation: they had work in the morning and have officially turned into responsible adults—who knew?). I always love going with Miss Sheri anyway, even if she gets a little too into heckling the opposing players and refs. Let’s just say if they ever need an enforcer in the stands, she’s ready.

We were pretty pumped when we spotted Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson sitting courtside—about 30 rows in front of us. He had floor seats with some of his buddies, living the VIP life while we admired from afar. Between him and Anthony Edwards, I couldn’t ask for two better Minnesota athletes to root for. One was taking in the game, while the other was on the court, putting on a show. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday night.

Anthony Edwards had a strong game, reminding everyone why he’s one of the most electric players in the league. But it’s been a rough week for him—after racking up his 16th technical foul, he earned himself a one-game suspension. As much as I love the guy, he does have a habit of letting the refs hear it a little too often, and now it’s officially caught up with him. He plays with so much passion, but at some point, he’s got to figure out how to channel that energy without giving the league extra reasons to keep him off the court.

We watched the Timberwolves battle hard on Sunday night, only to come up short against the West-leading Thunder. Anthony Edwards put up 29 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 37-point performance, and the Wolves lost 130-123. It was a frustrating loss, but little did we know, the real show was happening the next night. On Monday, the Wolves pulled off an insane comeback, erasing a 25-point deficit to beat the same Thunder team in overtime. Anthony Edwards had a clutch block, Jaden McDaniels dropped 27, and somehow, we had tickets to the wrong game. Figures.