A Wedding in Waverly
Todd Swank's Diary Entry for November 2, 2025
Hard to believe the NBA regular season is already here. We went with better seats and fewer games this year — last season’s half-season plan was too much. After back-to-back trips to the Western Conference Finals, we showed up for the home opener excited to see what Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves would do next.
It was the home opener against the Pacers, and I brought my best gal with me. The boys don’t have much interest in Sunday night games anymore—which is fine by me. She’s way cuter, laughs at my jokes, and occasionally flirts with me when the Wolves hit a three.
Just our luck—three minutes into the game, Anthony Edwards grabbed his hamstring and limped off to the locker room. Out for the night. The whole arena groaned like we’d just been told beer prices went up. Thankfully, Julius Randle decided to take over and showed us why having another stud on the roster isn’t such a bad backup plan.
Even without Ant, the Wolves managed to hang on and beat the banged-up Pacers 114–110. Randle carried the load, Gobert grabbed everything in sight, and somehow we survived a fourth-quarter collapse that felt way too familiar. The new black-and-pine uniforms looked sharp, the crowd stayed loud, and we walked out feeling like this might actually be the year… which, of course, means we’re doomed.
Miss Sheri and I spent most of the week on the road, and one stop landed us in Green Bay for a full-day customer meeting. I wrapped it up with dinner inside Lambeau Field—which, as a lifelong Vikings fan, felt like eating dinner at my ex’s house while her new boyfriend showed off his Super Bowl rings. The meeting went great, but I had to keep my mouth shut since every single person there bleeds green and gold. I survived though. Years of Vikings disappointment prepared me perfectly for polite small talk with Packers fans.
Our next stop brought us to Waterloo, Iowa—just a short drive from my old college stomping grounds at UNI. Our hotel sat next to Crossroads Mall, which used to be the hangout spot when I was a student. Now it’s basically a ghost town with better parking. It’s wild how kids today will never know the thrill of aimlessly roaming a mall for hours, trying to look cool under fluorescent lights, and blowing all your money at Orange Julius. Honestly, they’re missing out.
While I’m off visiting customers, Miss Sheri turns every trip into a sightseeing adventure. In Green Bay, she hit the zoo and botanical gardens, and in Waterloo, she made a beeline for the John Deere Tractor Museum. Growing up on a farm, she’s always had a soft spot for the green and yellow. There’s just something timeless about John Deere—proof that even after a century of change, the heart of America still runs on diesel, dirt, and determination.
After my customer visits, we made our way to Waverly, Iowa, for the wedding of Luca and Jamie Myers. Luca’s dad, Ron, has been one of my best friends since high school, so it was great catching up and seeing his family again. We had dinner at Whiskey Road a couple nights before the wedding—good food, good friends, and that calm little window before everything turns into speeches, dancing, and mild panic.
Miss Sheri went to college at Wartburg in Waverly, so we spent some time wandering around campus while she revisited a few of her old haunts. Some places brought back great memories, and others looked completely different—like someone had remodeled her past without asking permission. Still, there’s something grounding about walking the same paths you did decades ago. It reminds you where you’ve been… and how far you’ve somehow managed to make it since.
The wedding was absolutely beautiful. It took place at Vilmar Church in Green, Iowa — a charming little spot pretty much surrounded by cornfields and gravel roads. The ceremony was more traditional than most we’ve been to lately, full of prayers, hymns, and heartfelt moments that actually made you slow down and take it all in. Luca and Jamie looked completely over the moon — young, happy, and just starting their big adventure together.
Luca and Jamie dismissed everyone row by row after the ceremony, so when they reached ours, I figured it was the perfect time to snag a photo. They looked a little caught off guard at first—probably not expecting a mid–receiving line ambush—but they laughed and happily posed anyway. It’s not every day you get a shot with a brand-new married couple still glowing from “I do.”
We got to sit with Joel and Jen at both the ceremony and the reception, which was a real treat since we hadn’t seen them in a couple of years. It was great catching up, laughing like no time had passed, and hearing about their own wedding plans for 2026. Can’t wait to celebrate with them when it’s their turn.
Going home to Iowa always stirs something in me. Maybe it’s the familiar faces, the endless fields, or just the slower rhythm that makes you breathe a little deeper. This trip was about all of that—catching up with old friends, celebrating young love, and realizing how fast time moves when you’re not paying attention. The faces get older, the hair gets grayer, but the laughs sound the same. There’s comfort in that—proof that no matter how far you go, pieces of home always stay with you.
@toddswank Let’s go, Timberwolves!! #minnesota #timberwolves #nba ♬ original sound - Todd Swank
@toddswank Timberwolves beat the Pacers 114-110 on 10/26/25z. #minnesota #timberwolves #pacers #nba ♬ He Got Game - Public Enemy
@toddswank Most families bond over dinner. We bond over whiffed drives and questionable swings. 🏌️♂️ Swank Family golf night at Launch Pad, Mystic Lake — skill optional, enthusiasm required. #FamilyFun #MinnesotaLife #GolfFails #MysticLake #Shakopee ♬ son original - Jbjumpingggg
