Grandpa Hill's True Stories

Category: Stories

All the many stories that have shaped the man known as Grandpa Hill, Donald, Don, or simply Silly Grandpa

  • When Grandpa Was a BEE Target – Children’s Story

    When Grandpa Was a BEE Target – Children’s Story

    In 1974 Grandpa was 16 years old and was cleaning the outside steps that went up through the woods to the front door of Mr. Griemel’s house.  There was to be a party that night and the steps would be clean of dirt and debris. As he sprayed the water to clean the railroad ties and stones he discovered an in-the-ground nest of yellow jackets.  It was easy work to spray the bees and flood the nest.  Soon Grandpa discovered something he will never forget.  Yellow jackets always have an alternate exit to their hives. 

    Soon there was a stream of angry bees after Grandpa.  He had become a BEE Target.   The hose was dropped and he was running at top speed towards his car.  A glance over his shoulder revealed a long string of bees in hot pursuit.   He had enjoyed getting rid of the pests.  He was now in fright and flight and could be easily overcome by dozens of charging bees. 

    Grandpa tells his true stories for your benefit to help you think laugh and live, and maybe avoid his mistakes.   This is the 80th episode.  Some are more serious faith and family and health stories.  This is a “fun” one of when Grandpa became a bee target and lived to tell the story. 

    Please share one of Grandpa Hill’s True Stories today!

    • Producer: Grandpa Hill with David Richman.
    • Intro Laugh and Call to Sit Down: Walter and Corbin.
    • Grand children in the audience: David, Annette, Kyla, Breandan, Lawrence, Edmund, Levi, and Emma.
    • Cover Art: Amy Steele.
    • Music: Michael Steele
  • When Grandpa Whined to Grandma – Children’s Story

    When Grandpa Whined to Grandma – Children’s Story

    In 1989 in December Grandpa was all alone in his little room above the Saltsburg Supply Company.  It was cold!  Way too cold for Pennsylvania in December!  He had made a huge mistake, he was lonely, and he was cold.  He called Grandma to whine about his troubles.

    Grandma decided to fix everything by telling Grandpa a story about shopping at the big mall in Burnsville MN.  In no mood for a story, especially about shopping, Grandpa listened to the story and he changed.  He stopped his whining!  Whining  wasn’t working and it never should work for anybody, not for little insistent children and not for Moms and Dads and definitely not for Grandpa Hill. 

    Gorf and Marshmallow help Grandpa Hill discuss whining  with some of his grandchildren.  Grandpa Hill appreciates that help as he promotes Thinking, Laughing a lot, and Living life fully.  It so much better for the, children the children’s children and for all children if whining never works!

    Please share your stories with your childrend and grandchildren. Please share this story with someone in the world today. Thank you, Grandpa Hill.

    • Produced: Grandpa Hill, with David Richman.
    • Puppets: Gorf, Grandpa Hill; Marshmallow David Richman.
    • Laugh and Call to take a seat: Walter and Corbin.
    • Grandchildren in Audience: David, Kyla, Lawrence, Edmund, Levi, Emma.
    • Music: Michael Steele.
  • Grandpa Flies a Jet Plane – Children’s Story

    Grandpa Flies a Jet Plane – Children’s Story

    In the fall of 1975 Grandpa (Don) climbed into a T33 Trainer Jet for what he thought would be a short 5 minute ride.  His “ride” turned out to be a scare, a thrill, and much more than just a ride.   Don was eighteen years old, had never been in a small plane before.   Now he was climbing into the cockpit of a military training jet and soon they were off!

    Just a few minutes later he had the stick in his hand and the right pedal under his foot and was making a turn up in the sky over Pikes Peak Colorado at a few hundred miles per hour.   Wow!  The whole event gave Don a new perspective on his life and, and, a high respect for the pilots of our world. 

    As the “pilot” for his own family, Grandpa knows everything he does or doesn’t do makes a difference for his future, that of his wife, their eight children and their 23 grandchildren.  It even makes a difference for people he doesn’t even know.

    Enjoy the story.  Please share the story far and wide.  Think, about the story. Tell your own stories, act on the truth the best that you can, then laugh a lot, and live! 

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Grandchildren in the audience: Breandan

    Music: Michael Steele

    Art: Amy Steele

  • Grandpa Drinks With A Bat – Children’s Story

    Grandpa Drinks With A Bat – Children’s Story

    Grandpa Hill has done many unusual things and many of them happened on his annual back packing trip with the Hill and Richman Family.  For the past 30 years he has gone backpacking with his family and the Richman family.  On this trip Grandpa came eye to eye with a bat.   Grandpa was alone.  They both wanted the same watering hole. They sipped and they parted their ways. 

    Think laugh and live, and, share share, share, these stories.   Thank you for sharing and thank you for listening.  Grandpa Hill of Grandpa Hill’s True Stories.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Grandchildren in the audience: Breandan

    Music: Michael Steele

    Art: Amy Steele

  • Don and Mary Decide to Homeschool – Faith and Family Story

    Don and Mary Decide to Homeschool – Faith and Family Story

    In 1989 Grandpa (Don) and Grandma (Mary) lived in Savage Minnesota with their four children.   Three of them attended St. John the Baptist Catholic School.   Don while teaching catechism is informed by his student, Sarah, that things have changed since he was a boy in catechism. Her claim was that today’s children need to decide for themselves what is right and wrong for them.

    Don was surprised.  He learned that Sarah was right about what the school was teaching.  St. John’s was now using “values clarification” texts for teaching morals and virtues.   Students would indeed be taught in catechism, and in the school that virtues and morals are relative, and subjective.  The training would be all about clarifying your values and deciding what’s right for you.   No right nor wrong way to believe.

    Don objects!   By accident Don and Mary learn there is such a thing as homeschooling.   They also learn that they too were practicing “values clarification”, ‘doing what was right for them, which really wasn’t right at all’.

    Don saw the fruits of homeschooling in 1989 and wanted them so much for his own family that Don and Mary decide to homeschool their children.  Don and Mary decide to teach Godly character traits and values to their children.   The family stops watching the TV.  Mary gets a tubal reversal.   Together they make the sacrifices and changes needed as they put their trust in God.   The family grows to eight children.  Two of the eight children become religious sisters.  Six of them are happily married.  From those six marriages there are twenty three grandchildren!   All of the children and grandchildren have kept their Catholic faith.

    Grandma and Grandpa Hill are so glad they made those decisions of 1989, homeschooling, the tubal reversal and turning off the TV.

    As promised this is the link to a recommended article by William Kilpatrick https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/education/catholic-contributions/how-not-to-teach-morality.html 

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Grandchildren in the audience: Breandan

    Music: Michael Steele

    Art: Amy Steele

  • Mary’s Super Sight and Quick Thinking – Faith and Family

    Mary’s Super Sight and Quick Thinking – Faith and Family

    Welcome to another one of Grandpa Hill’s True Stories.  Don and Mary are going up North to Michigan Tech in 1977.  They would secure a place up at the college for Don to stay, with Bruce for his last year prior to getting married.    Late at night as they travel along interstate I-75 near the intersection with M-72 Mary sees a light in the distance and slams on the brakes.  The car shakes hard as the old brakes struggle to slow it down! 

    Then it appeared,  there was a wreck.  There were injuries.  Soon Grandpa was off down the hill to rescue one of the drivers that had been in the collision.

    Don is so grateful for Mary’s super sighting of a tiny light, late at night on the freeway, and her quick and accurate reaction that had saved the day, and probably the lives of several people.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Grandchildren in the audience: Breandan

    Music: Michael Steele

    Art: Amy Steele

  • When Grandpa Lies to the Policeman – Slightly Wiser Story

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  • A Superior Minnesota Vacation

    A Superior Minnesota Vacation

    This episode of Grandpa Hill’s True Stories took place in May of 1989 along the Western shore of Lake Superior.   Grandma and Grandpa (Mary and Don) take their four children on a long Memorial Day camping vacation.   The story is of five precious memories that make up the five chapters:  Mittens in May; Short Sheets at Gooseberry Falls; Cascade River Trout; Bears Bears, Bears; and Grandma and the Ostrich. 

    This story is being told to four little excited children about when their aunts and uncles were the four little excited children.  The story was told to them shortly after their little sister, Emma, our 23rd grandchild was born.  As you think laugh and live your life, maybe you will remember a story and tell it to your loved ones or share it with someone that hungers for or just enjoys the simple and beautiful family life.

    Please share Grandpa Hill’s True Stories far and wide.  It is a good gift you have discovered.  Pass it on!

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Grandchildren in the audience: Breandan

    Music: Michael Steele

    Art: Amy Steele

  • Fishing With A Four Year Old – Children’s Stories

    Fishing With A Four Year Old – Children’s Stories

    Grandpa Hill shares another true personal story of fishing with a four year old.  Grandpa claims to have always caught something on every fishing trip, even this one.  Caleb his grandson challenges Grandpa when he seems to contradict himself,  ‘Sometimes never even getting a bite, yet always catching something.  Come on!  Which is it?’

    In this true story Rebecca is the four year old, the gear is a bamboo pole, the catch….. well you will have to listen to the story! 

    Grandpa assures the audience that this trip like every fishing trip or family adventure gave him and his children precious memories that have lasted a life time.  This one fishing with a four year old was exceptional fun and excitement.  Grandpa Hills Children Stories and Health Stories are listened to in dozens of countries, dozens of States in the USA, and dozens of communities in Pennsylvania.  Please spread these stories far and wide, it will probably help make the world a better place.  You will probably never know exactly how but one thing affects another and then surprise you are telling your own stories, and, learning from Grandpa Hill’s true stories.  Think.  Do what you can.  Then laugh and live.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Grandchildren in the audience: Breandan

    Music: Michael Steele

    Art: Amy Steele

  • A Boy and His Dog Jack – Children’s Story

    A Boy and His Dog Jack – Children’s Story

    Andrew really wanted to be in 4H and show a dog.  Rebecca his sister had a dog, and, she was in the show.  He had two huge obstacles to overcome.  First he was too young to enter the show at the Indiana County Fair.  Second he did not have a dog!

    Determined, he got the best dog he could get from his sister Amy.  His name was Jack, the last of the Jack’s.   Andrew’s persistence, was endearing.  He won over a lot of the 4H leaders and organizers.   

    In a class of his own, Andrew and his dog Jack, were registered, and, entered the show.  They won blue ribbons! 

    For Andrew’s Dad, Rebecca, and Andrew it was one of the best days at the Indiana County Fair that ever was.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Grandchildren in the audience: Breandan

    Music: Michael Steele

    Art: Amy Steele