Editor's note: Author Nancy Messerly grew up on her parents' farm in Lancaster, Ohio, just about a mile from the South Central Power Company office. As a child, she rode her bike up the big hill, carrying her family's power bill and her mom's check, to turn in their payment. Mr. Brown, at the office, would give her a lollipop for the ride home. Today she's a retired human resources professional living in Grandview Heights, Ohio, who enjoys reading, gardening, and road trips.
