Grandpa Hill's True Stories

All Stories – The Achieves

  • 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’s First Boat

    Grandpa’s First Boat

    Once upon a time there were two little boys in the back of their father’s aluminum flat bottomed fishing boat,  two big boys took turns at the front, but the two little boys got bigger.  As the four boys grew, one moved away, and, the little boys were crowded and heavy in the back of the boat.  Grandpa, one of the not so little boys, takes it upon himself to purchase a boat of his own so that he can go fishing while two of his brothers can be in the family boat.  Grandpa Hill’s solution was a little yellow inflatable boat with a brass fitting.  He had saved his money and was determined to be independent in his own boat!

    He learned that being independent is a lot of work.  That didn’t stop him from being independent. Out on the lake all by himself, catching fish.

    Grof and Marshmallow discuss the importance of independence but also the importance of taking turns (even when you don’t like to) and spending time will your family. They also imagine what might’ve happened to Grandpa Hill’s Boat. What do you think happened to Grandpa’s Boat?

    If you enjoyed our story please subscribe and share the story with everyone you know. If you would like to talk with us directly, email us at grandpahill.stories@gmail.com!

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Art: David R,
    Music: Michael Steele
    Grandchildren in the Audience: Lawrence, Edmund, and Levi

  • Grandpa Leaves for Mexico

    Grandpa Leaves for Mexico

    Come Home Son, is the story about how the simple honest love of Grandpa’s Father changed and saved his life. 

    A special story for those who do not love themselves and for you dads who love your children.  Grandpa has just left the Air Force Academy in Colorado. His dreams, and his plans, of who he was going to be were broken and gone. Rock Bottom. He took a job with some nasty people in “sales,” and was too ashamed to go home.  Grandpa walked out and started hitchhiking south.

    He headed for Mexico to find good work on the oil rigs, but before going he made collect call from El Paso to his home in Rochester Michigan, to let his parents know where he was going.

    Grandpa’s dad wanted to talk to him, and he asked his son one simple question: When are you coming home? Three times he asked When are you coming home?  His dad’s love got through to him and he decided then and there, and told his dad he would come home.  

    If you are not home: go home. Just go home. Figure out a way to get better make amends, whatever it is that has kept you separate from your father, and you might just be surprised how much your father loves you, and wants you to come home.

    Love yourself, live a life where you are thinking, laughing, loving and living!
    It can happen. It has happened.  It has truly happened to me, Grandpa Hill.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Music & Art: David Richman

  • The Healing Power of a Grape Leaf

    The Healing Power of a Grape Leaf

    Grandpa is taking his daughter Amy across the fields of western Wisconsin in 1990.   The two of them had come out of the woods away from the rest of the group.  The Romo’s children, and their mom, Mrs Teresa Romo and Don and his four children had spent the late morning hours foraging for medicinal herbs and wild foods. 

    They had experienced seeing baby raccoons in an old tree stump.  They had gotten a few mosquito bites and now the push was to get back to the farm house.  Little did they know that off of the beaten path there would be an old fence line and there would be bees!  Bumblebees!

    As they were crossing the last fence line, Amy disturbs a modest nest of bumblebees.  She gets stung and immediately starts to swell.  Donald knows that their visit with the Romo’s would now get cut short with a trip to the emergency room.  Amy has many allergies and bee stings is one of them.

    When they get to the farm house her hand is quite swollen.  As Don and Mary Lee start to fuss,  there is no alarm from Teresa.  She pulls out a wild grape leaf from her bag we had filled that morning.  She places it in shallow water in a frying pan on the stove.  The leaf becomes soft and thick.  Teresa proceeds to wrap Amy’s badly swollen hand in the grape leaf and we proceeded to fix lunch.

    Before Amy sits down to her lunch, the swelling is completely gone.  What Benadryl couldn’t do in an hour, the grape leaf had done in just minutes.   Grandpa learned the healing powers of a grape leaf.  He also learned a lesson about knowledge, being curious, and the importance of sharing what you know with others.

    Gorf and Marshmallow also  marvel at the power of a grape leaf and how smart, resourceful and wise Mrs Romo is.  Semloh takes the opportunity to teach Gorf and Marshmallow a relevant lesson about knowledge and learning.

    How did Mrs. Romo know of the power of a grape leaf and the value of dozens of other plants that grew in her own “back yard”?

    Please share often, follow, and listen often to Grandpa Hill’s True Stories as you and your children learn to think and then laugh and live life fully.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

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

  • Lots of Bumble Bees

    In the summer of 1968 Grandpa Hill (Donald) was playing with Mike Martin his cousin.  They were along Hamlin Road in Rochester Michigan playing tricks on his brother Eugene.   Donald and Mike decide to hide from Eugene after they had secretly dropped leaves and twigs from high up in the tree nearly hitting Eugene as he pedaled buy.   

    Those trees are gone now.  The old fence line where Donald and Mike had hid is gone now.  Hamlin Rd no longer cuts through farm land.  Rather there are large houses and a nearby industrial park.  What isn’t gone is the memory of the revenge of lots and lots of  Bumble Bee’s.

    Donald and Mike had hid from Eugene  on top of the bumble bee nest!

    Grandpa learned a lesson that day.  He remembered it well.  Until he didn’t!  But that,  is another story.

    Please subscribe or follow and share this story then listen to one of the 50 other episodes.  Think Laugh and Live listening to Grandpa Hill’s True 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: Annette, Breandan, Eoghan, and David.

  • Grandpa Gets a “U” in 2nd Grade

    Grandpa Gets a “U” in 2nd Grade

    A counselor was recently asking Donald  (Grandpa Hill) some probing question about his childhood. She was trying to understand Grandpa and help him understand himself and feel better about the world he lived in. Donald, as Grandpa Hill recalls his answers to the lady that was trying to help him and shares his answer with his children, and grand children. In the fall of 1964 Donald was in the second grade at Hamlin Elementary School in Rochester MI. There was a struggle going on. Donald had, in his mind, invented numerical bases for counting, and used them fluently to do his math work.  He was interested in second grade level books but not to read them. How and why things worked were mysteriously interesting to him especially the abacus. So varied and unusual were his interests that Donald was oblivious to his classmates, and at times did not “hear” nor heed his teacher Mrs Crocket. The disruptions had to stop. An intervention was necessary! The intervention started with a startling and terrible report card with a couple of  “U” s for his unsatisfactory performance and behavior. This was followed by a parent teacher conference where Grandpa suspects the details of the intervention were worked out. On that fateful day, in the fall of 1964, Mrs Crocket and Donald’s mom intervened. The event included a speech therapist, a math researcher (tutor) and an opportunity for independent work. If Donald made the right decision his life would be changed for the better, forever! Semloh a new character to Grandpa Hill’s true stories joins Gorf and Marshmallow to help explain Grandpa’s problem.  Semloh observes thinks and explains the details as best he can. He is a wise observant and understanding character that help’s Donald think and helps Gorf, Marshmallow, Grandpa’s children, Grandpa’s grandchildren, and all children to understand how to be very much like others while being happily quite different.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Semloh: David Richman
    Gorf: Grandpa
    Marshmallow: David Richman
    Music: Michael Steele
    Art: Amy Steele
    Grandchildren in the audience: Annette, Kyla, Breandan, Eoghan, Lawrence, Levi, Eddie.

  • The Great Michigan Bike Trip Part 3

    The Great Michigan Bike Trip Part 3

    Part 3: Day 4, Day 5, Day 6. Stuck in Marion Michigan.

    Grandpa Hill and his friends leave Wilson State Park, where their neighbors had taken them after their highly unlikely and very fortuitous chance meeting the day before. They headed out of the park on what would come to be known as the “disaster day.” The road was clear… until it wasn’t.  

    There is a tractor trailer truck in the opposing lane, going 70 or 80 mph. The gust from the speeding truck makes the bikes wobbly and some of them fall down. The bikers are a little scraped up, but even worse Bill’s bike is busted. It’s 3 miles to Marion Michigan, the next closest town. They’d have to walk.

    In Marion, after a catastrophic attempt to fix the bike, Grandpa Hill and his friends don’t have much to do, but they sure are hungry. There was not a crumb left of their lunch. The bikers run into a little trouble with the Police Chief and Fire Chief.  In their opinions the group of bikers were too friendly with the police chief’s daughter.  They had their ways of expressing their disapproval. Nonetheless, the girls did tell them about the park where they set up camp. Its raining, and the bikers find refuge playing cards in the town hall.

    Day 5 Grandpa and Bill hitch hike to Cadillac Michigan to get a new bike wheel, and they come back to accusations of breaking into the laundry-mat, and the bikers agree to leave town the next day. With Bill’s bike fixed they leave Marion Michigan behind.  Just before they go they witness an exciting chariot race.

    Grandpa and his friends met a lot of challenges in Marion.  They didn’t give up.  With rapidly emptying pockets, frequently empty stomachs, and a broken bike they kept on going.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced and Recorded by Grandpa Hill

    Art: David Richman,
    Music: Michael Steele,
    Grandchildren in Audience: Caleb, Corbin and Walter.

  • The Great Michigan Bike Trip

    The Great Michigan Bike Trip

    COMMENT BELOW – Share what you thought of this episode!

    Grandpa Hill was 16 years old and drawn to adventure.  The adventure in this story is a 500 mile long bicycle trip in the early 1970’s.   Four boys leave Rochester Michigan on their 10 speed bicycles.  Not one of the boys had ever been even on an overnight bicycle trip.  Their experience at camping was next to nothing. A recipe for disaster.

    Grandpa Hill, Don, knew that if they didn’t go this year they would never go.  Summer jobs, graduation, college, military service, their interests, and their responsibilities would be changing.  Prepared or not, skilled or not, they were going to make this adventure trip. 

    They had 50 miles behind them, their spirits soaring, and then the trouble began.   There was pain, anger, fear, viscous dogs, a knife, a Lapeer country sheriff deputy and a friendly and very helpful policeman from North Branch Michigan.  The confrontation was over, no one was hurt, no one was arrested and Grandpa would live to tell this story of the Great Michigan Bicycle Trip. There was no discouragement with the setback of Day 1.  With the end goal of Bill Lecuru’s Grandparent’s house near Onekama Michigan, Day 1 was done, and what a day it was!

    Stay tuned for PART 2!

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill, 

    Music played by Michael Steele,
    Art by David Richman,
    Grandchildren in Audience: Caleb, Corbin, and Walter.

  • The Fruitful Decision

    The Fruitful Decision

    Grandpa Hill’s True Faith and Family Story of what truly happened to him at the Latin Mass in Latrobe Pennsylvania was possible because Donald and Mary Lee made a fruitful decision, to open the womb 33 years ago. They offer to everyone their story of deciding to reverse their sterility, and, proceeding to go from a “large enough” family to a much larger family.

    Grandpa realized recently in a sudden rush of emotion that the path they chose, although less traveled, not popular, and, considered risky and ill-advised has truly made all the difference.  Grandpa Hill is not a theologian, nor doctor, nor expert on fruitful decision making.  He is just a good critical thinker, and problem solver.  It’s what he does.  When Grandma has a good thing she shares it with everyone she knows and that’s what she does.  Grandpa and Grandma believe that their decisions, acting on those decisions,  what they love, and how they love is what makes them who they truly are.

    Please enjoy this story and share it with others as you think laugh and live. Go to grandpahill-stories.org to contact us. We want to be our best at loving and caring and sharing Grandpa Hill’s True Stories with you. Your comments, stories, and needs become part of why we exist.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Music: David Richman

  • Love Hurts #1 — The Squirrel

    Love Hurts #1 — The Squirrel

    Grandpa tells a story of his love for Grandma, and a massive flying squirrel. Grandma gets very hurt. In the darkness of the new couples bedroom there is shouting, then they are crying, then—as the story comes out about the squirrel—they are laughing.

    Love Hurts #1 is the first in a series of mishaps that Grandpa and Grandma have loved each other through, in holy matrimony since 1978.  Love Hurts #1, truly happened to us!

    We hope this series of stories is especially valuable to teenagers, those dating, those betrothed, and those living in holy matrimony. Might these stories encourage you to love your spouse (or potential spouse) more deeply, laugh a little more, think, and live.

    Christ was willing to die for His spouse the Church, we likewise must love our (potential) spouse unconditionally. Unlike Christ, as sinners striving to be saints, we make mistakes, and sometimes for the best of reasons… namely Love. For love is self gift and a gift returned, but it is also a total willing the good of the other.

    Grandpa Hill was willing to sacrifice himself to save his wife from the incoming squirrel. Unintentionally he slugs Grandma, but upon awaking and finding what he has done to his wife begins crying with her, then laughing with her at dream of the flying squirrel.

    Afterwards Grandma and Grandpa reconciled, and learned a little more how to think, laugh, and live in the early years of their marriage.

    We wish you Peace on your journey,

    שָׁלוֹם, Shalom

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Music & Art: David Richman
    Audience: Grandma, David, Leah, Anna, and Breandan

  • Food and Vacation Fun at Grandma Bonse’s

    Food and Vacation Fun at Grandma Bonse’s

    Every year Grandpa went, with his family, to visit his Grandma and Grandpa Bonse in Northport Michigan.  He remembers the great food especially his grandma’s raisin bread.  Yum!  Grandpa had adventures every year!   A pine forest deep and dark and quiet, and the steep grassy hills behind the barn, set the “stage” for his vacation fun.  A box of simple toys gave hours of enjoyment.  At night Grandpa and his brothers could see through the floors.   

    Two foods brought each vacation to a close.  Popcorn made by Grandpa Bonse and Chubs from town for the adults.  Gorf the frog is impressed with Grandpa’s fun and initiates a game of tree tag.  Marshmallow plays too but has his priorities, food first!    Grandpa encourages his children his grandchildren and all children set down cell phones, shut off televisions and enjoy each other and enjoy their childhood as they learn to think laugh and live.   

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill, 

    Music: Michael Steele
    Grandchildren Audience: Kyla, Lawrence, Eddie.

  • Brandy Pony (Part 1)

    Brandy Pony (Part 1)

    Grandpa gets a pony for his Birthday, Brandy. Brandy, as it turns out, is a thoroughly stubborn animal who fights Grandpa every step of the way. Hours of watching and reading westerns couldn’t prepare him for this bucking bronco. It doesn’t help matters that Grandpa knows neither head or hoof about caring for horses, much less how to ride them. As a result Grandpa learns how to get bucked, and (eventually) how to stay on.

    Brandy is a difficult horse but he brings a lot of lessons. Lessons of perseverance and responsibility. Although Grandpa didn’t like getting thrown in the dirt, he still kept his duties as the owner of a horse. It was his horse, so he had to feed, water and bath it.

    By the end of the story Grandpa Hill was living his dream, as real a cow boy he would ever be, but it would be foolish to think this fence leaping horse has been broken. Tune in next time to hear of Brandy’s affection for clover, and how Grandpa used geometry to solve the problem of the Bucking Brandy.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

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

  • Sandy and Her Seizures

    Sandy and Her Seizures

    Grandpa Hill’s  true health story “Sandy and Her Seizures”  tells how connection and love and critical thinking about health issues came together and resulted in Sandy not having seizures anymore.  When Bernadette finally gets Dean and Don (Grandpa Hill) together, the synergy of the information that gets shared leads to a speedy recovery for Sandy.

    This story could have had a very sad end.  Medical care givers had concluded that not much could be done for Sandy.   Dean’s  ideas and direction for Sandy’s care had been dismissed by the Doctor’s.   With conviction Dean moved forward, and got the treatment Sandy needed.  

    This true event in Grandpa Hill’s life motivates him to tell his stories, share his opinions, as he thinks laughs and lives.  Please share the story with everyone!  Grandpa Hill is confident that the lives of many will be so much better if you do.

  • XCOPRI Worked

    XCOPRI Worked

    In Grandpa Hill’s True Health Story about success with XCOPRI a new AED, anti epileptic drug, Grandma Hill (Mary) did what Mary does.  She shares her personal success story, her ideas, and her opinions with another.  After her epilepsy improved, with 50% fewer seizures, she shared her story with Gregg, and he does even better.  

    Grandpa Hill is not a doctor, just a good thinker, seeking the best of care for Grandma and her epilepsy.  Our dream, our goal, is that more people will benefit from these stories.  Grandpa encourages epileptics, their caregivers, and their Doctors to consider XCOPRI, Cenobamate. Share this story with them, it might get them started.  Grandpa is learning to share more like Grandma has always done, as they think, act effectively to improve their health, while they laugh and live abundantly, in spite of the seizures.

  • Why Did I Say That about Her Baby?

    Julia was trying to start a family and she had just found out about another miscarriage. Inexplicably Grandpa Hill (Don) thought her baby was still alive, and told her what he thought.  Julia needed to hear that, and so did her baby.

    To this day Grandpa Hill doesn’t know why he said that, but he did say it.  Sometimes we don’t say what what we know we should, but what an impact there can be when we do.

    This story changed Julia and her family.  This story changed Grandpa Hill and his family.  It is Grandpa’s hope that this story will change you and your family.  (The story is as true as Grandpa Hill can remember it.  Names have been changed.)

  • 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

  • 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.

  • How To Buy a Car

    How To Buy a Car

    Grandma teaches Grandpa how to buy a car–how not to pay more than it is worth or than you can afford.  34 years after he learned his lesson Grandpa has bought over 20  cars. The family has nearly always has one dependable family car and a back up car. This has saved the family so much money.  No car payments ever!  Only once did he feel he should buy collision insurance coverage. 

    His two current cars cost $1,000 and about $4000 dollars when they were new to him. Never has he bought a brand new car.  Occasionally he has offered money on cars at used car dealerships.  Never have those offers been accepted he just can’t bring himself to pay more than what it is worth to him.  Grandpa is OK with that.  So is Grandma. 

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Music and Art by David Richman

  • The Flood – Love Hurts #2

    The Flood – Love Hurts #2

    In the dark January night Don Mary Lee and Brian set out for the Indiana Library. It was a warm day in Pennsylvania in January in the early 1990’s.  The snow had been melting all day.  Flashflood warning were out.  There was water on Route 286.  Then the family car was floating and was in a flood. 

    Grandpa quickly made a plan to leave the car and when it came time for the family to escape the car he ended up hurting Mary Lee.  Grandpa dragged her over the console of the small Chevy station wagon.  The floating car sank, the flood was eliminated with a shovel and the evening came to a close.  Mary Lee’s arm was badly bruised and the car was totaled by the insurance company.

    Grandpa loved Grandma deeply and at the moment considered the dragging minor compared to losing Grandma in the flood.  Looking back, Grandpa knows he loved well.  Grandpa also knows he over-reacted.  A few more seconds of thinking could have avoided the haste of the “escape”.  A bit of caution and good judgement and he may have completely avoided being in the flood.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Music & Art: David Richman

  • Hospital Check – Grandma Saves the Day

    Hospital Check – Grandma Saves the Day

    In 1979 Grandpa and Grandma Hill, were proud parents of their first child, Patricia Kay.  The huge $1900 hospital bill had just been paid.  Grandpa Hill was broke!  In a few days he would be at a to-be-determined-address 500 miles away with no money, no job, and full time college classes to attend.  The very next day the good news came in the mail.  The health insurance from Central Foundry was going to cover all of the hospital bill.  Grandpa went immediately to the hospital to get the $1900 back.  The hospital had already cashed the check, and, couldn’t give him the money!  It would be weeks before they would get the check and the address to send it to still wasn’t known.  All of the back and forth of getting the money would have to be done by mail and expensive phone calls.   The situation looked bleak, but, then Mary Lee (Grandma Hill) took over.

    It took some sitting, some talking and a lot of patiently waiting and then it happened, Grandma Hill saved the day again.  Grandpa was so proud of what she had done, and grateful for the money.  “Honey how did you do it?”  Was his frequently asked question in those early years.  Grandma had truly saved the day!

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Music & Art 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

  • Grandpa Mangles His Bike

    Grandpa Mangles His Bike

    In the spring of 1973, Rochester Michigan, Grandpa Hill found freedom, fun, and adventure on his light and fast 10 speed bicycle.  He had saved up for this bike and it met all of his needs and then some.   Grandpa had plans of pedaling his bike on many long rides packed with adventure.  In this episode he takes his bicycle on one very risky ride with his friend Bill.

    His plans to ride that bike on trips that were 100’s of miles long were shattered when the bike crumpled against a curb.  In the wreck he loses his bike, breaks his arm, all while skipping school.   He does not want to admit his pains, especially not to his Dad that offered help.

    Gorf and Marshmallow help the younger listener figure out what this growing up story is about.  There were losses, and, yes lessons were learned, the hard way.

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman,
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Grandchildren in the audience: Breandan

    Music: Michael Steele

    Art: Amy Steele

  • 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

  • Indian Tree

    Indian Tree

    Grandpa Hill as a small boy in the 1960’s, near Northport Michigan, would cross Route 22, and, head up into the Pines to explore, and play. He had a very active imagination in those woods and everywhere else too for that matter.  This episode is about one special tree the “Indian Tree” at the Northeast boundary of the “Pines” that he was in.  The Pines were deep dark  and cool a perfect place to imagine just  about anything.

    Gorf and Marshmallow learn and explain about imagination.  Gorf (a bullfrog voiced by Grandpa Hill) likes to  imagine adventures.  Marshmallow (a Raccoon voiced by Grandpa’s Grandson) imagines mostly food.   Please join them time and time again by listening to Grandpa Hill’s True Stories.  Share our stories and their hope for more thinking laughing and living.

    As you share Grandpa Hill’s Stories, consider sharing your own stories more.  Share your imaginations.  Just imagine the good that may happen!

    Credits:

    Produced by David Richman
    Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill

    Gorf: Grandpa
    Marshmallow: David Richman
    Music: Michael Steele
    Art: David Richman
    Audience of Grandchildren: Caleb, Corbin, Walter