Editor’s Note 
My aunt — my mom’s sister — lived with us when I was little, and although I was devoted to her, and she was my favorite aunt of all, when it came right down to it, I wanted to be with Mommy.
Letter from the Editor
Compiling our summer “Fabulous” issue is sweet torture. It’s sweet because we always learn so much about our community: the depth of its history, the breadth of its interests, the richness of its culture, the sparkle of its people. It’s torture because, well, we’re worriers. We worry about getting it right, telling you something you didn’t already know, and keeping you fascinated. We always guess that if something interests us, chances are, it will grab you too.
Letter from the Editor
Most of us wouldn’t fare very well with a camera following our every move for a month. If we were lucky, it would catch us committing only minor-league pettiness, small fits of whining, and maybe one or two moments of self-centeredness. If we were lucky, it would also show us doing something a little extra for our spouse, being really sensitive to the needs of one of our kids, or doing volunteer work. If we were lucky.
Letter from the Editor
I’m trying to remember just what I thought when Lee Publisher Beth Snipes called me in the fall of 2007 with her Big Idea. She wanted to start a women’s magazine in Lee County, one that would be fun and funny and smart, and even sometimes moving, a magazine that focused on the lives of regular women, people, she said, like us.
Letter from the Editor
Remember your New Year’s resolutions? Maybe it’s better you didn’t. Let’s face it, those turn-of-the-year promises are often born of a sense of failure. Many times we form resolutions based on a dim view of ourselves: If only we were better. If only we were thinner. If only we were more organized. If only, if only, if only …
Letter from the Editor
Christmas is tradition. We eat certain foods, wear certain clothes, decorate our homes in certain ways, even spend our money according to ritual. So pervasive is the notion of holiday tradition it even dictates our television viewing.
Letter from the Editor
Come join the conversation. I’m at www.lee-magazine.com every day and I’m hoping you’ll join me for a chat on our online forums. Right now, we’re talking about holidays, finance, and plastic surgery. It’s your chance to weigh in.
Letter from the Editor
This issue went to press late, and it’s my fault. The dog ate my homework. In truth, the workload got to me and I couldn’t get all the writing done on time. I’m happy to report that it should not happen again. We’ve been very lucky. A couple of freelance writers came forward, people with experience, talent, and a willingness to work for what a start-up publication can pay.
Letter from the Editor
Every month my husband reads our food writer Heida Olin’s recipes and says, “These sound fantastic. I get hungry reading them. Are you going to make them?”
Letter from the Editor
When we were putting together our list of Forty Fabulous Facts about Lee County, things quickly got out of hand. We had planned the list to run in June, but it ran so long we had to hold half the nominees until this month. And then there were the sheer number of possibilities to chose from. After awhile, a lot of it came down to what could be confirmed by deadline. Could we find someone to tell us about this? Was this source authoritative?
