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 My Mom had a Massive Stroke

    When My Mom had a Massive Stroke

    In 1996, Grandpa Hill received a call, his mother was paralyzed in a hospital bed after a massive stroke. Medication prescriptions mounted, and by the time she left rehab she was on 9 different drugs.

    Listen to hear how Grandpa Hill ends up taking his mother out of the rehab, and helps her to continue to live a good healthy and happy life. Mom came to stay with them in Pennsylvania. The rehab psychiatrist had prescribed purpose rather than more medication. A strong Will to Live was what Grandpa Hill’s mother needed most. Her struggles in Grandpa Hills very busy house with seven homeschooled children would keep her mind and body challenged.

    Slowly and surely (one medicine at a time) they managed to mostly unmedicate Mom. Suddenly Mom takes an unexpected turn for the worse, her liver was shutting down.

    MomsMassiveStroke.mp3Download

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Music: David Richman

  • Lots of Bunnies

    Lots of Bunnies

    Hide in seek is a very fun game, which everyone loves to play. Hide the bunny is also a very fun game, except when it is not.

    In Lots of Bunnies Grandpa Hill tells the true story, as best he can recall, how a bunny died because it could not breathe.  A few days later a little girl lived because Gerry, Grandpa’s brother, kept her from hiding in a refrigerator where she wouldn’t have been able to breathe.

    Gorf is sad about the bunny.  Marshmallow gets Gorf to see how important it was for Gerry to learn this lesson:  Air is needed to breathe.  Never hide yourself or anything living where it can’t breathe.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Grandchildren in the audience: Breandan

    Music: Michael Steele

    Art: Amy Steele

  • Sledding in the Summer?

    Sledding in the Summer?

    Can Grandpa really go sledding in the summer? According to his true story he sure can. Listen as he relates what fun he had with his family sledding on the hills at his Grandma and Grandpa’s place near Northport Michigan in the early 1960’s, IN THE SUMMER!

    Gorf doesn’t want to go sledding until he hears Grandpa’s story. Then when he wants to go sledding, he is reminded by Marshmallow that he must take care of his cardboard box, like Grandpa did. This will assure them summer sledding fun each and every year for Gorf, Marshmallow, and all of Grandpa Hills 22 grandchildren.

    SummerSledding.mp3Download

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Gorf: Grandpa,
    Marshmallow: David Richman,
    Music: Michael Steele,
    Cover Art: An old Brownie in the 60’s.
    Grandchildren in the audience: Annette, Breandan, and Eoghan.

  • I Want To Go Camping! (Part 2)

    I Want To Go Camping! (Part 2)

    When I Finally Go Camping!

    Grandpa tells the rest of the story of a time he really wanted to go camping. In Part 2, Grandpa now has enough platelets, and finally goes camping with his brother in Canada; where they meet several mosquitoes, a skunk, and not enough fish.

    Gorf is worried that Grandpa quits camping all together. Marshmallow knows better. All are encouraged to listen, laugh, and think and wonder what would you do when you finally get to do what you wanted to do, and, worked so hard for, and, it doesn’t turn out nearly as nice as you thought it would.

    IWannaGoCampingPt2.mp3Download

    Credits:

    Produced by David C. Richman
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Gorf: Grandpa,
    Marshmallow: David Richman,
    Music: Michael Steele,
    Cover Art: Annette,
    Grandchildren in the audience: Annette, Breandan, and Eoghan.

  • I Want to Go Camping! (Part 1)

    I Want to Go Camping! (Part 1)

    Grandpa tells the story of a time he really wanted to go camping.  A disastrous turn in his health threatens the trip.  Grandpa’s platelets were mysteriously and quite completely gone!  Listen to his intense efforts to to get those tiny little cells called platelets back up to normal safe levels.

    Marshmallow, the raccoon and Gorf, the frog, discuss what they think is evidence of Grandpa’s stubbornness.  All  are encouraged to listen, laugh, and think and wonder what would you do if you wanted to do something and were told no, and, knew you shouldn’t do it, but still really wanted to do that something.

    IWantToGoCamping.mp3Download

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman
    Recording by Grandpa Hill

    Gorf: Grandpa
    Marshmallow: David Richman
    Music: Michael Steele
    Cover Art: Annette
    Grandchildren in the audience: Annette, Breandan, and Eoghan

  • Pipe Fishing

    Pipe Fishing

    Grandpa goes fishing in the unlikeliest of places. A pipe. Fishing without a fishing pole? Fishing without bait? How do you do that? This unique fun and challenging adventure, was also Grandpa’s Grandma’s way to afford pickled herring (suckerfish).

    Marshmallow the raccoon is quite excited and sees the value of play while working, and, of waiting for a reward.  Gorf shares in the learning but is hesitant.  He suspecting that some of his relatives have ended up on the wrong end of Grandpa’s pole. 

    PipeFishing.m4aDownload

    Credits:

    Gorf: Grandpa
    Marshmallow: David Richman
    Music: Michael Steele
    Grandchildren in the audience: Caleb and Corbin

  • We Made Lake Livernois!

    We Made Lake Livernois!

    Grandpa Hill tells the story of Lake Livernois to three of his 22 grandchildren.  Grandpa and his brother Gerry make a lake! The story recounts how his seemingly harmless excitement at dam building, had a sobering not-to-be-repeated impact on his neighbors.  A police car, fire truck,  and a dump truck all come to make things right.  Through this exciting adventure Grandpa learned to consider the harm his actions may have on others.

    LakeLivernois.mp3Download

    Credits:

    Gorf: Grandpa.
    Marshmallow: David Richman.
    Music: Michael Steele.
    Art: Amy Steele
    Grandchildren in the audience: Caleb, Corbin and Walter.

  • Pebbles and Blood

    Pebbles and Blood

    Some fun isn’t worth the price. As well as he can remember Grandpa tells this personal experience story of his first bike wreck of his childhood. He learned about listening to his mom, wearing his shirt and shoes when pedaling, using the right sized bike, and restitution.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Gorf: Grandpa
    Marshmallow: David Richman
    Art: David R.