Grandpa Hill's True Stories

Category: Slightly Wiser

These often equally daring, and occasionally ridiculous true stories tell of Grandpa’s Adult Life.

  • The Insurance Commissioner – Grandma Saves the Day

    The Insurance Commissioner – Grandma Saves the Day

    Grandpa Hill tells this true story to give credit to one of the unexpected talents that Grandma has for peaceably settling disputes and disagreements and issues.  Don (Grandpa Hill) wasn’t so good at that sort of thing.   Before Don would get into the arguing, the run-around and the frustration of handling difficult issues he would wisely turn it all over to Mary Lee.  It would seem like a miracle to Don, when somehow Mary Lee would get the issue settled.

    Mary Lee (Grandma Hill) was a stay at home mom in the early 80’s in Columbus Ohio.   With two little children and one on the way money was tight. There had been a wreck, the car was damaged and the insurance company wasn’t going to pay.  Mary Lee gets the insurance carrier to reverse their decision, cut a check, and, pay us for our loss.  The check was in Grandpa’s hand about five hours after Mary Lee had started to address the issue.   The money was greatly needed.  She got it done, and fast.   Nobody mad, nobody sad, and several hundred dollars available to fix the family car; she truly saved the day. 

    Mary Lee’s special talent has served the family well these past forty four years. Don is so proud of and in love with Mary Lee.  

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Music by David Richman

  • Grandpa Kisses a Woman

    Grandpa Kisses a Woman

    Grandpa is catching his breath, on the plane on his way to deliver his report to Georgia Power and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, in Washington D.C. He had realized he didn’t have the report! He wouldn’t be on the plane now if not for the work of Jody the secretary who drove across town with the papers he needed for the Nuclear Reactor case (another story). His boss had held the plane, his job was saved, and Grandpa realizes that… that… he kissed Jody. You know how people say, when they are very happy and thankful, “Oh I could just kiss you.” Well, Grandpa didn’t say that, instead he just kissed her.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Grandchild, Art & Music: David Richman

  • One Day Truck Driving Career

    One Day Truck Driving Career

    Grandpa Hill needed to earn money for college in 1976.  He got a job working in a chemical factory.  It was a stinky job with many hazards.  He got a chance to be promoted to be a truck driver.  He was to go at lunch renew the license he did not have and then finish out his shift, and report for work Monday morning to drive a truck he did not know how to drive.  The story is about Grandpa Hill’s first day as a driver and how his career ended quickly.  

    Gorf and Marshmallow discuss the clever way Grandpa started his driving career. Marshmallow is so excited about Grandpa’s adventure in truck driving.   Gorf is adamant that Grandpa needed to be more honest and suggests a better more honest way to have talked to the owner, Mr. Michelin about getting his license.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Gorf: Grandpa
    Marshmallow: David Richman
    Music: Michael Steele
    Art: David Richman
    Grandchildren in the audience: Sarah, David, Leah, Anna, Miriam, and Ray

  • My First Car

    My First Car

    In My First Car, Grandpa wants his own car. He is 16, it is 1973 and he doesn’t want to wait until he is 18. He has money from jobs and the recent sale of Brandy (his pony).  

    Great Grandpa and Grandma Hill (his parents) do not want to repeat what happened to Grandpa’s siblings when they started driving their own cars.  Somehow Grandpa Hill was able to get his car, despite the recently formed family rule of no car until you are 18. Grandpa’s good driving, planning, his very good grades in school and his appropriate respect for his parents wishes helped him win his appeal to get a car just two months after his 16th birthday.  Within seconds after his parent’s changed their minds all was settled and he was the rightful owner of a 1964 Volkswagen 1500 to drive to school, to Detroit, or anywhere he could afford to go.  

    Marshmallow the Raccoon is very excited for Grandpa’s first car.  Gorf the Frog is concerned that Grandpa may have acted badly in going against his parents wishes.  Both of them come to think that Grandpa made a rightful appeal and his parents changed their minds.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill, 

    Music: Michael Steele,
    Grandchildren: Joseph, Catherine, Lizzy

    image: http://classiccardb.com/volkswagen/ edited by David Richman

  • Driver’s Test

    Driver’s Test

    Grandpa tells the story of his first and only driver’s test, with his family’s old stick shift 1970 (and 1/2) Ford Torino. On this driver’s test the officer giving the test asked Grandpa a very important question, “Do you know how fast you are going?”

    Although Grandpa didn’t quite learn it then, this story brings up lessons regarding honesty and safety while driving. The officer did pass the test, but perhaps only because he was amused by Grandpa’s creative answer.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Art: David Richman,
    Music: Michael Steele,
    Grandchildren: Joseph, Catherine, Lizzy

  • Lost With The Kitties

    Lost With The Kitties

    In this Grandpa Hill Slightly Wiser True Story, Grandpa loses a child at the Columbus Ohio City Zoo.  Grandpa Hill had a system to make it easy for a lost child to find him.  He wears a yellow shirt. The yellow shirt system failed and Brian, the lost child, had an adventure while lost with the “kittys”.  To this day no one knows if Brian ever petted the “kitty”, with spots. It just so happened to be as tall as he was.  From Gorf and Marshmallow we learn that Grandpa Hill does improve the yellow shirt system. With his improvements he didn’t lose children very often after this incident.

    As always Grandpa Hill encourages you to listen, subscribe for notifications of new episodes.  Let us know if you or your family or friends find it a little easier to think, laugh and live from these stories.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Gorf: Grandpa
    Marshmallow: David Richman
    Music: Michael Steele
    Art: Amy Steele
    Grandchildren in the audience: Joseph, Catherine, and Lizzy

  • 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