08/29/2021
October 1, 2002 was my first day at Cousins . It was also Chickasaw Festival Parade day. If you have ever worked in food in tishomingo you know that’s a crazy busy long day. I went home a cried and thought what did I get myself into . Fast forward 19 years . So many parades , festivals , buses , basketball camps , ballgames, several classes of freshman lunchers , a kitchen fire , a flood, a shattered ankle and a wheelchair , multiple cars running into the building along the way. My mom has survived stage 3 breast cancer . We all survived 2020. And for me the biggest sweetest most unexpected surprise of all - my sweet baby boy . So many memories and milestones . Celebrating Birthdays , holidays , anniversaries. Mourning together the loss of so many lifetime friends along the way. I’ve spent more of my life here than anywhere else . This has been home to me . I literally grew up here. With My family and my friends . And Someday when he is old enough to understand I’ll have to tease Rhett that I even met his daddy in here way back in the very beginning of it all years ago ❤️🥰 so Please know that Ive prayed about this . I’ve lost sleep over this . I’ve debated so much on the best way to say this . I had decided a fb post might save me from being so emotional and having to tell each individual one on one but now I know that wasn’t the case either because I’m a sobbing basket case of waterworks a writing this 😭😭😭 but I have been presented and blessed with the opportunity to spend more time with my family and more time with my baby - my precious baby boy that I never thought I would get. And as hard as it is for me to accept change or to let go I know that this is the right thing for me at this time . So I’m going to take it and trust in it and step out on faith that life has a new path for me ... so Tuesday aug 31 will be our very last day as Cousins . the property will soon be welcoming new ownership and a new business all together . Please know you all hold a dear place in my heart and I will cherish every memory we have shared . Forgive me if I seem lost and don’t quite know what to do with myself for awhile . This is literally all I’ve ever known... but This is not goodbye . I fully intend to pull up a chair with my crew at the round table at whatever establishment they adopt next . And this time I get to enjoy their company as a friend instead of a waitress or cook. Who knows . I may miss it so much I can’t stand it and start something later down the road ... but I hope that everyone has enjoyed our time together as much as I have . I’ve had the best customers in the world in the best small town USA. And had the privilege to work along my mom all of these years and spend many mornings visiting with my dad before he left out for his day along the way . I’ve worked hundreds of hours with so many that I can now call friends and family . A special thank you to Darlene Baxter
She’s been a faithful employee and has been along for the entire ride . We’ve both had a rough day today ...sorting thru years of stuff and memories . but I appreciate her more than she will ever know . I don’t want a sad ending. Just business as usual and to go out like we always have been and a normal day. I can’t stand a big goodbye . But I sincerely Thank you all for everything ❤️❤️I love you all .
