Daring to be Bold
Meet Lillie McKoy,
Mayor, Maxton, NC

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AlexSandra Lett " Lett's Set a Spell"

Leap Year Moonings

On Valentine's Day the moon was moving through Scorpio, a water sign promoting emotional tendencies, according to "The Farmers Almanac." I spent the day for lovers looking at thousands of pictures and reading newspaper clippings covering several generations of family in search of photos and ideas for my forthcoming book, "Timeless Moons."

I wept as I read clippings about Mama and Daddy's wedding and postcards written when they were separated during World War II and as I looked at pictures from their courting and early-marriage days. Looking through albums featuring yours truly it was enough to make a grown woman cry -- pictures of me with various suitors throughout high school and college years and several other fiances along the way plus photos of recent encounters with men I'll call Tom, Dick and Harry.

I thought about a decision I made last fall to quit working all the time and to start socializing more. The moon must have been right - enter Tom, a professional photographer looking for a partner who would understand his demanding schedule. However, I discovered that he didn't appreciate my "friends only" attitude. He moved onto friskier prey, but hoped I'd change my mind.

Then came Dick, an executive who decided I was the woman of his dreams -- mentally stimulating and financially successful. Within two weeks he started planning our entire future together -- we'd build a house on some isolated land he owned in South Dakota. When I noted that I wanted to live someday at Lett's Landing, he said we'd have a winter home there. Between residences we would travel all over the United States and the world. He didn't seem to care that I loved writing at home and had aging parents who required my living in this area.

After Tom and Dick, along came Harry, a straight-laced insurance company owner, calling every week ordering more books for family, friends, and clients. His wife had died, and he wanted to visit me. I prepared lunch and was getting ready to serve it when I walked into the kitchen to discover that my pet tree frog named Green Baby was not hibernating in his usual place. That meant that any minute he might jump up in the air and land on a favorite perch. Fearing that a leaping frog might frighten Harry I yelled, "Harry, watch out for the frog." As the words hung in mid-air, Green Baby jumped higher than ever, missed the window seal and landed in the plate earmarked for Harry's lunch. I don't know who looked the most confused: Green Baby or Harry, but it was Harry who left suddenly, and I haven't seen him since. Green Baby enjoyed nibbling on the tender vegetables.

With Leap Year coming I wondered, "Tom, Dick, or Harry, which one should I choose to marry?" The answer was obvious: none of them. However, Green Baby is growing like a weed and getting sprier every day. I am wondering if I kiss him, will he turn into my Perfect Prince?