The Adventures of Julie and Bella 2025

As the Buffalo Bills take the field for what will be their final game at the current Highmark Stadium, I find myself overwhelmed with emotion. This place has been such a constant in my life that it feels impossible to separate the stadium from the memories, the people, and the feelings tied to it.

My very first memory of being there was with my entire family — including my Grandma. We were at that game, the one where the goalposts came down. We were sitting right behind them in the end zone, not realizing we were witnessing history, or that those moments would stay with me forever. Years later, about 25 years ago, I spent time going to games with my dad. Those days were loud, cold, and full of joy. More recently, I was able to take my dad to the Return of Blue and Red practices the last two years, creating new memories in the same place that holds so many old ones.

It’s hard to imagine the Bills playing next season and it not being at the Ralph. This stadium isn’t just steel and concrete — it feels like family. And today, it feels like we’re saying goodbye to a member of it.

At the same time, today also marks the last day of my vacation. After two full weeks at home with Bella, soaking up slow mornings, long walks, and quiet moments, I have to head back to work tomorrow. Saying goodbye to vacation always feels a little bittersweet, but this break gave me exactly what my body needed: rest.

I was able to truly slow down, listen to my body, and recover in ways I don’t always allow myself to during the school year. While I’m still dealing with lingering pain in my neck and throat, even after five days of a strong antibiotic, I know the rest mattered. Healing isn’t always instant, but giving myself time was an important step.

So today feels like a double goodbye — to a stadium that holds decades of memories, and to a stretch of time that allowed me to breathe, rest, and just be. As I step back into work tomorrow, I’m carrying gratitude with me — for the memories, for the rest, for Bella by my side, and for the reminder that some places and seasons shape us more than we realize.

Go Bills. ❤️💙🏈