Slightly Wiser Stories: Recent Episodes
Grandpa Hill's True Stories
Grandpa Hill tells the odd, interesting, funny, and inciteful stories from his very eventful adult life. These stories are about camping, mistakes, college years, and much much more.
In 1991, Grandpa, Don, was a development engineer by day and homeschooling and homesteading Dad at night. Some persistent and relatively large creature was eating the animal feed intended for the ducks and rabbits. As the battle with the creature continued, Don came to realize that is was a RAT that he was dealing with. […]
When Grandpa was a seven year old boy in 1964 he visited his Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Bob in Cheboygan Michigan. Upstairs in a hot room a fan was spinning trying to cool the room and boys were playing and the fan was interesting. As Don was considering putting his fingers into the fan, perhaps […]
In 1974 Grandpa Hill, Don Hill, was clearing stump logs around Karl Greimel’s Estate. He was 16 years old and the blade on Mr. Greimel’s saw was 16 inches long. When the blade entered his leg he knew he was in trouble. As he drove himself to the hospital his left leg was warm and […]
Grandpa Hill was recently in the Latrobe O’Reilly Auto Parts Store and an incident occurred. It turned out to be a timely end to his search for sanding discs for his son John. Then just a few weeks later it happened again but differently and better. This time he was sent there by his son […]
It was Halloween and Grandpa was 19 years old in 1976 in Rochester MI. He wore his mummy/robber costume into a liquor store in Troy Michigan. It was a dumb thing to do. Grandpa Hill’s Grand Children beg for stories of when Grandpa Hill does something stupid or gets in trouble. Gorf and Marshmallow discuss […]
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 […]
In the winter of 1968 Grandpa Don and his friend Bill Lecuru in Rochester Michigan, built a fort of sticks and newspaper in the woods near Bill’s house. Grandpa was 14 and the fort was not warm enough for the two boys to stay warm so a very small fire was needed, inside of the fort. Like a teepee.
Don was not thinking about how strong the draft would be. Shortly after they were starting to get heat off the fire sparks went up and lit the newspaper on the inside of the fort. Within a couple of seconds it was clear that they had to get out of the fort, through the fire. A few seconds after the boys scramble out the entire fort is a roaring blaze.
Gorf and Marshmallow discuss how serious, and dangerous and dumb and stupid it was to have a fire inside of a small fort constructed of sticks and paper. They review how there are lots of ways we can learn to do things right. One way is to make mistakes and learn not to do that in the future. Another way is to listen to other peoples stories, and learn from their success and their mistakes.
Grandpa Hill hope’s you listen and share Grandpa Hill’s True Stories with your friends and family. Then sit back, think about the story, talk about it, share your own stories, then laugh, and live!
Credits: Produced by David Richman,Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill
Marshmallow by David Richman,
Gorf by Grandpa Hill
Music: Michael Steele
Art: Amy SteeleGrandchildren in the audience: Breandan and David
Grandpa Hill knows lots of people that just talk way too much! Two special women to him really talk a lot. At one time, Don was quite sure they both talked too much. Mary Lee, Don’s wife, and his oldest daughter Patricia are the two ‘talkers’ that taught him a lesson and the value of sharing stories with and taking the time to get to know and share with people about yourself.
This story is about learning that lesson, learning to be patient and learning the importance of sharing your story as you get to know others, be friendly, and perhaps make a friend.
Just today when Mary Lee and I went for our daily walk, she met Tiffany in the park. The two of them talked for about 30 minutes. Her story was sad and she looked desperate. Her tears seemed genuine. Telling her story seemed to lift some of the burden she was bearing. Mary Lee assured her of God’s Love for her and not to give up. Please pray for Tiffany. We will.
Please, Think, Laugh, and Live and share Grandpa Hill’s True Stories!
Credits: Produced by David Richman,Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill
Music: David Richman
Art: Amy SteeleGrandchildren in the audience: Annette, and Breandan.
The “God Send” in this story is Paul Hamacher. He is the CEO of Spire Stocks http://www.spirestocks.com/. Grandpa tells his story and how just as he was retiring he meets Paul and they hit it off well. Next thing you know and Grandpa is maneuvering his 401K. Getting out of the market when it is going down, and, into the market when it is going up. It sounds simple and it is!
Years ago when Grandpa first started 401K’s they were more difficult to access and change. As they became easier to change the investments, he didn’t keep up with the times and did nothing with his 401K and Roth IRA accounts. Grandpa started out a do-nothing investor in the 80’s and 90’s and remained a do nothing investor until October of 2022.
In 2022, Grandpa and Grandma got a tour of the Borremeo Center by Sister Maria Karol. On the tour they swap stories. Sr. Maria Karol, tells of her family, her dad and her vocation story. Grandpa shares "Grandpa Hill’s True Stories" told live to Sister Maria Karol, the stories are about himself, and his family and his love of math.
The next thing you know Grandpa is meeting Sister Maria Karol’s Dad, Paul Hamacher. Soon after that Grandpa and his son Michael soon learn the value of and how to maneuver their retirement savings using Spire Stocks Market Sentiment Indicator as a guide.
To help others get started in the process of maneuvering their 401Ks, Paul has extended an offer of discount subscriptions to Spire Stocks. Those discounted subscriptions are offered to anyone that tells Paul (Spire Stocks) that Grandpa Hill sent them.
Just go to http://www.spirestocks.com/, sign up for a free one week membership and then notify spire stocks at notification@spirestocks.com/. Spire Stocks will get in touch with you and perhaps you too will learn and decide like I did to maneuver your retirement savings in the stock market using Spire Stocks. Maybe you will start long before you retire, I wish I had.
Credits: Produced by David Richman,Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill
Music: David RichmanArt: Amy SteeleIn the audience: Joe, Catherine, and Lizzy
In this episode Grandpa Hill tells how he finally got real road rash! When he was a small boy with bare skin sliding in the gravel (listen to Pebbles and Blood, Episode 1) he thought he had road rash. This time he really had road rash!.... and some broken bones, and the healing balm of raw honey applied to his wounds by his wife Mary Lee. This story is both a health (and safety) story as well as a slightly wiser story.
Don had baking to do and batteries to buy. In his haste he ended up hitting the pavement at forty five miles per hour, breaking his shoulder blade, rib, and collar bone, and ripping up his skin. Don is so grateful for his helmet, he probably would be dead without it. Don learned by experience and later in riding class to always check out his motorcycle no matter how short the ride was going to be. He failed to do a check the day of the wreck. He failed in his haste to put up his kickstand!
When Mary got home, and saw the terrible road rash wound on his left shoulder. ‘Hospital protocol be dammed’ she proceeded to thoroughly clean the wound and then applied raw honey and in six days completely healed his shoulder wound.
Grandpa Hill would like all motorcyclists to be purposeful in their rides, take appropriate caution and have a fun time. If something goes wrong and you do get road rash consider raw honey. It worked for Grandpa Hill and it may work for you to. Shalom.
Credits: Produced by David Richman,Executively Produced by Grandpa Hill
Music: David RichmanArt: Amy SteeleIn the audience: Joe, Catherine, and Lizzy
On St. Patrick’s Day, 1975, Mary Lee Mack met Donald Paul Hill in the library of the high school in Rochester Michigan. That was the day that Don’s girl friend realized she was his girlfriend.
Don had been so anticipating having Mary as his girlfriend and so anxious about being rejected that he struggled to tell Mary of his intentions. “Everything had to be just right,” was the excuse Don had for not askingMary to go out with him on a date.
Listen and learn what $1 and a green carnation had to do with the start of Grandma’s and Grandpa’s togetherness, as they have learned to think, laugh a lot, and live life well.
Although this story is not how Don recommends that couples should start their relationships. It is, as best as Don can remember, the truth about how it all started 48 years ago on St. Patrick’s 1975.
It was the fall of 1985, Grandma and Grandpa Hill had just got a new house in Savage Minnesota. There was an ongoing disagreement about money and furniture. We both wanted living room furniture. Mary Lee wanted to sit comfortably in the living room with friends and family. Don wanted to sit comfortably but had no money to buy furniture. Buying a couch at that time was out of the question. Even so Mary Lee, went and got a couch and much more.
Mervin and Janette, Mary Lee’s parents were generous and bought the furniture. Mary Lee negotiated a low price. Don’s happiness and gratitude, was hampered by his stubbornness and pride. Don has recorded this episode as a memorial to the love and generosity shown by Mervin and Janette Mack.
By the way, Mary Lee saved the day again! She turned the furniture buy into a dent and scratch sale! She still advises buyers to just ask for that lower price. “Frequently you will get it”.
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.
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.
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!
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 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.
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.
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.
Grandpa Hill, that’s me, Don tells this story for his children, his grandchildren, and all children. The 6 Hills go to bed on a summer night in Savage Minnesota determined to not watch the TV anymore. This drastic change in their life was preparation to start homeschooling in the fall.
It was Friday night. It was 1989. In just 11 hours, Saturday animation would be no more. The TV was in the closet!
In the morning Grandpa wakes and soon sounds the alarm to Grandma, the children are missing!
This unexpected start to their homeschooling days was a clear sign to them that replacing TV time with family time and great activities, was the best choice, a key opening the door to their success with their eight children being taught in their home.
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.
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.
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.