The Merry-Go-Round was my babysitter. Growing up, I spent my summers in the carnival. I stayed with my grandparents, Pamp and Hot Dog Nellie, in the Blue Goose.

When I was seventeen, Pamp died in my arms at the Pike County Fair.

I had to choose — walk away from the show, or make the money to begin my college career at The Ohio State University.

Three weeks later, I opened the Apple Dart game at the Ohio State Fair. I marched into press headquarters and announced, “I’m Queen of the Midway, and I want you to write my story.”

And they did.

Two years later, I was hired as a full-time reporter at The Columbus Dispatch.