She's an old love that refuses to fade into the past.

Unlike other loves I knew in my youth which are now just unimportant memories, this old flame still lights up the corners of my mind. Her beauty surpassed anything I had ever seen and still does.

I have never know contentment like when I was wrapped in her arms. God, how I loved her and I've always regretted leaving her there. I cried when I left to go off to World War II in 1944 and couldn't wait to get back.

She was waiting with open arms for my return.

I cried again when I left her in 1951. At the time I thought it would only be for a short while. I've been away 34 long years now.

Oh, I've been back to visit her several times and she always welcomes me back in her arms to sleep for as long as I want. She's a jewel there in the Cumberland Mountains snuggled up against Kentucky and Tennessee.

Her mama's name is Virginia. She's the County of Lee.

Why did I leave her? I guess we all do things like that when we're young and foolish. And it seems the longer you stay away the harder it is to return.

I've crossed the Atlantic Ocean to the White Cliffs of Dover; took a swim in the Mediterranean. I've traveled the Hedge Row County of Northern France; marvelled at the beauty of the Rhine Valley of Germany and gazed at the snow capped mountains of the Alps. But I have never seen anything that can match her rugged beauty.

Yes, she's a jewel tucked back there out of everybody's way; always ready to forgive and take you back. That's Lee County and you'll never know just how much you love her till you've been away for awhile.

God.......................How I love her!