Saying goodbye to loved ones can be hard. Let's take a look back, honor the good in them, and share the legacy they would want to be remembered for.
I think something that can resonate with so many is the idea of saying goodbye. I believe it is an important part of life and also a necessary component of the human experience. With goodbye comes a wave of emotions that cannot be ignored. You may feel sadness, anger, relief, or even peace. No emotion is wrong, and each feeling can be validated. When our family said farewell to our grandparents over these last few years it was overwhelming to say the least. So many people were involved and each and every one of us felt something different. These were 2 people who met when they were only teenagers, went to college, ran off and eloped, and started the life that we all know today. Our entire family is here because of this initial love, and when we think back on this, it can be mind-bogging.
Booger Holler was something that they built quite literally from the ground up. They worked hard for everything that they had and I have always been proud of the commitment and work ethic that they modeled for us. Without this dedication who knows where we would be today. It is because of them that we work so hard to continue this legacy. We too want to build something bigger for all of us that can continue to be shared as a family and a community. Booger Holler was just that, a place where everyone was welcome and a place where everyone felt like family.
So here we are today, so many years later. My brother and I are reviving this company as a tribute to what they built but more importantly, the feeling that Booger Holler created for all of us growing up and all of those involved in its creation. It is 100% because of what they created to share with those around them. When honoring something that holds such a special place in your heart, we definitely have felt the pressure. Everything has to be right, we want to make them proud, we want others to love it as much as we do. We now know that we cannot be perfect and neither were they. All they would want is for us to try our best, be ourselves, and build something we can be satisfied to put our families name on. Once we do that, share it with the world and lend a hand to our neighbors with any success it brings.
With that, we encourage all of you to look to your past. We know every family looks different. Some are traditional in a sense, some of you have a chosen family, some of you very literally build your own family. The people in your world that made you the person you are today, whether it was shaped through good or overwhelming memories. We still encourage you to not only build but also share the best parts of your legacy. The one you want to create. Continue your valued traditions and share some with those around you. That is what those we have said goodbye to would want. They would want you to work just as they did. Be proud. We know we are. Thank you Papa Elliott and GiGi! You will be missed but we do know that what you built and modeled will live on for generations to come.
