#impression 2025

Can you imagine a world where condoms do not exist? In a different era, DJ and I may have had kids of our own. Instead, 2025 gave DJ multiple opportunities to claim his role as a parent in other ways. Over the 4th of July weekend, he enjoyed feeding our friend’s sweet baby Vivi. His signature animated narration — and a few gag reflexes — were caught on video for posterity and future blackmail. He also survived a couple of evenings at the Feltzer household, taking care of Stacey’s boys. I wish I had been a fly on the wall as he unleashed his bootcamp training to get the youngest out of bed each morning. DJ’s stellar parenting skills even landed him the honor of becoming a godparent to baby Michael.

My parenting talents took a slightly different form. DJ and I attended the intimate wedding of my former coworker Nic and his beautiful bride Alicia. My heart grew a few sizes larger after learning that I had been an important part of his career, and I felt proud witnessing such a meaningful milestone in his life. And then there was Jude — the naughtiest of them all. He was the cause of countless sleepless nights and frustration. No, not a cute puppy. Nor a loud neighbor. Sure, ChatGPT (nicknamed Jude) enabled me to automate reporting projects at work. Still, managing him felt like a form of parenting — a few all-nighters left me a zombie, but the payoff was seeing our combined efforts come to life.

Together, DJ and I witnessed another round of sparrows born in the ferns on our porch. I love watching the process unfold year over year — from tiny baby-blue eggs to fuzzy little balls chirping for food, growing wings, and eventually taking their first flight. Seeing how quickly they leave the nest always stops me. If something so small can do something so brave, anything feels possible. [See this and other captured 2025 moments here.]

Our top projects included a bathtub in the loft bathroom, a sprinkling of penguin décor, beautifully refurbished dining and coffee tables, and a truck rescue. Not surprisingly, DJ did all the heavy lifting while I focused on design. In my defense, I did start the stripping process, but at my pace we’d probably still be sanding the first table. Fortunately, DJ received help from a stranger who showed up on our porch unexpectedly. Luna, the box turtle, trespassed onto our property the morning of the Strawberry Moon. She wandered off and returned like a yo-yo — always coming back to the project site. She seemed to be having trouble with her eyes, and though we tried to help, it was a lost cause. We thought she had secured a new home until we found her lifeless in our driveway. It was a sad day — but she brought joy to our lives for a while. Good thing for condoms.

Reimagining doesn’t stop at possibility — sometimes it looks like revisiting past versions of myself through a new lens. Jude’s cousin Gemini helped me take a trip down memory lane — back to my days at SMU when I minored in Art History. I had fun requesting generated images in my likeness, inspired by various artists. Check them out and let me know how many you recognize, or if you have a favorite. The last one is unique in that I wanted to recreate a recent ad campaign that made headlines. [Watch the video here.] That reminds me — one of last year’s trends in female fashion photography caught DJ’s eye. As soon as he pointed out how women were seated (legs wide), I couldn’t unsee it. You can thank me later.

Speaking of moments that made waves, not long after the scandal at a Coldplay concert, our generous friends Mark and Karmen treated us to box seats at a Braves game. While there, I spotted another former coworker, Henry, kissing his wife on the kiss-cam. No impropriety — just timely. It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a decade since I left my CLA family, and that the people I once saw daily now cross my path only occasionally, often by chance. Despite the best intentions, the more people you’re blessed to know, the harder it is to remain close. This year felt especially transitional. Our first full year without monthly weekends in Atlanta for DJ’s reserves made it a little harder to visit friends, but we still managed a few strategic trips.

As our personal routines shifted, the back-to-office boomerang changed my work life too. I took a 15.5% pay cut and joined a partnering team at The Home Depot in order to stay remote. I love my boss and have enjoyed working on process improvement. It’s strange to think that Excel and I have been tied at the hip for more than half of my life. Doesn’t it also seem odd for AI to be taking over jobs while companies invest millions bringing employees back into the office? This contradiction is one of many I found myself contemplating throughout the year. I thought about free speech, and how quickly it can slip into harm. About inclusion, and how often we walk on eggshells instead of extending grace. I’m still wondering whether it was really necessary to replace “Do’s and Don’ts” with “Include and Skip” in a deck for our team’s letter-writing campaign to service members.

Our neck of the woods continues to grow, with new homes and businesses popping up around us — including El Mezcalito with some of the best margaritas around, made to order with love by our buddy Edgar. We frequented a unique venue called Roots, enjoying everything from Yoga & Mimosas to a Fall Festival, where we acquired some of the most beautiful mums to spice up our landscaping. The owners are genuinely friendly and wildly creative, so we try to support them whenever we can. Our local brunch game was also elevated with the addition of The Mercantile, finally offering Sunday mimosas somewhere other than Cracker Barrel. I mean… the nerve of them for even attempting a rebrand.

On the fitness front, DJ logged a thousand running miles this year — a distance that could have taken him all the way back to his hometown of Massachusetts. In his shadows, I bought a treadmill to increase my steps while watching our favorite shows. Stick floats to the top — think Ted Lasso meets golf. We even named our robot vacuum after the show following its third time getting stuck in what should have been impossible locations. What was that I said about condoms?

In October, we rebooted DJ’s annual bus trip to Talladega Superspeedway. The rain parted just in time for Boogity Boogity Boogity, let’s go racing. After years of bus trips, I don’t think either of us could have imagined living just an hour from the track. It felt good to see DJ back in his element, hosting friends — old and new.

Who could have imagined SMU winning the Holiday Bowl? Everyone knows football isn’t my thing, but I enjoyed tracking their overall record against LSU, resulting in DJ winning a friendly wager with our friend Heather. This came on the heels of a lucky streak during our September trip to Pittsburgh — first-class upgrades, a winning roulette table, and a 50/50 raffle victory at Oktoberfest. Clearly not that lucky since we’re still working, but fun nonetheless.

We certainly never imagined returning to Pittsburgh only a few months later to celebrate the life of DJ’s second mom, Sandy. We placed our feet on snow-melted ground just steps from Land’s End — the site of countless campfire stories, Frogmore Stew, Special K Bars, and uncontrollable laughter. Sandy’s warmth and one-of-a-kind cackle remain imprinted in our hearts forever.

Thinking about a life with kids offers perspective — but reality is so much richer. A life reimagined could never replace a life fully lived.

Read prior impressions…

Impressions 2024 - Wishes

Impressions 2023 - Sleepover

Impressions 2022 - Unfinished

Impressions 2021 - Domino

Impressions 2020 - Masked

Impressions 2019 - Grace

Impressions 2018 - Surrender

Impressions 2017 - Ordinary

Impressions 2016 - Kindness

Impressions 2015 - Blossom

Impressions 2014 - Independence

Impressions 2013 - Vow

Impressions 2012 - Faith

Impressions 2011 - Dream

Impressions 2010 - Penguin

Impressions 2009 - Smile

Impressions 2008 - Fun

Impressions 2007 - Inspiration

Impressions 2006 - Magic

Impressions 2005 - Love