Growing Up Hilt

A blog written by Wendy Hilt that features interesting "To the Hilt" stories & thoughts on "Being Hilt." It's a preview of the book, "Growing Up Hilt." The book chronicles 50 years of challenges in an amazing sales career with bipolar disorder as my SUPER-POWER.

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Growing Up Hilt Growing Up Hilt: A Journey with Bipolar as a Super-Power

My Journey My Journey

My True Love My True Love

I Dreamed of Mom Last Night I Dreamed of Mom Last Night

My “Little” Brother Chris My “Little” Brother Chris

Radio Rockstars Radio Rockstars

My True Love My True Love

My Career in Pictures Career Photos

Family Cardinal Events Family Cardinal Events

Bipolar People You May Know Bipolar People You May Know

Words of Wisdom I Can’t Ignore Words of Wisdom I Can’t Ignore

Floating the Current Floating the Current

Family Photos Misc. Family Photos

My Sanctuary at Home My Sanctuary at Home

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers Flowers, Flowers, & Flowers

My Makanda Garden My Makanda Garden

My St. Louis Garden My St. Louis Garden 2002-2010

2025 Update 2025 Update

Additional Writing Additional Random Writing

Recollections Recollections

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    Wendy Hilt is from Murphysboro, Illinois and has two sons: Dane and Tucker. (They are Davis boys.) Wendy started her career in sales and really found a home for herself in radio with the launch of New Country Z100 in Southern Illinois. After her children were born she and the fam relocated to St. Louis where Wendy began several radio success stories. Most impressive is that she put her baseball knowledge to work and went to work for KMOX and the St. Louis Cardinals selling advertisements and promotions at Busch Stadium. In 1998 Wendy went to work in the internet industry with a national position handling six import vehicles traveling all over the US presenting the Autotrader.com Tier 2 programs. She retired from sales in 2011 and has relocated to a rural life in Makanda, Illinois.

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    My bipolar disorder has slowly gotten much worse as I’ve gotten older. More psychotic states, less energy, less stamina, loss of focus.

    Maybe that’s why I’m returning to writing a blog to record it. I don’t know how to remedy this. I try to eat & sleep the best way for me. Even my flowers are ata standstill…growing like they like to do…

    I have started participating in a mental heath website and am really enjoying it. One thing is for certain though: There are a lot of people worse off than me. In some ways I’ve done everything correctly. My sales training helps. I never tolerated any negative thoughts or the thought that I can’t do it. I always could do it if I made my mind to.

    The good news is that I haven’t had a serious depressive setback in a long while. I can handle being manic, but I shut down completely when I get depressed.

    Starting with a new psychiatrist. Dr. R retired. He needed to. I was charged with finding a new one and that’s practically impossible in my rural area now. I have settled in to having a nurse practitioner handle my meds and I will need to find a qualified psychologist for therapy.

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    Wendy Hilt is from Murphysboro, Illinois and has two sons: Dane and Tucker. (They are Davis boys.) Wendy started her career in sales and really found a home for herself in radio with the launch of New Country Z100 in Southern Illinois. After her children were born she and the fam relocated to St. Louis where Wendy began several radio success stories. Most impressive is that she put her baseball knowledge to work and went to work for KMOX and the St. Louis Cardinals selling advertisements and promotions at Busch Stadium. In 1998 Wendy went to work in the internet industry with a national position handling six import vehicles traveling all over the US presenting the Autotrader.com Tier 2 programs. She retired from sales in 2011 and has relocated to a rural life in Makanda, Illinois.

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    I have lots and lots of pictures from some areas of my life. Here’s me with my high school best friend who chose my college best friend to be in her wedding: Kelly and Gwen I’ve known most of my life.

    Modeling photos, 2025 Wendy, Miss Apple Festival. I don’t think my dad cared much for Tim, with Dane camping at Current River

    Just miscellaneous Me, Momma Mae with Tucker,

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    Wendy Hilt is from Murphysboro, Illinois and has two sons: Dane and Tucker. (They are Davis boys.) Wendy started her career in sales and really found a home for herself in radio with the launch of New Country Z100 in Southern Illinois. After her children were born she and the fam relocated to St. Louis where Wendy began several radio success stories. Most impressive is that she put her baseball knowledge to work and went to work for KMOX and the St. Louis Cardinals selling advertisements and promotions at Busch Stadium. In 1998 Wendy went to work in the internet industry with a national position handling six import vehicles traveling all over the US presenting the Autotrader.com Tier 2 programs. She retired from sales in 2011 and has relocated to a rural life in Makanda, Illinois.

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    by Wendy Elizabeth Hilt

    Here’s a bunch of pictures that did not fit anywhere else. There are years represented here with friends, and when my kids were STILL adorable.

    A woman with long blonde hair and earrings stands in the center, smiling, flanked by two boys. One boy has medium-length brown hair and is wearing a black sweatshirt, while the other boy has short brown hair, wearing a maroon hoodie with a gray shirt underneath. They are outdoors with greenery in the background.
    Tucker Davis playing ball. They obviously had won something…
    My dear friend Horton at a Cubs game in Chicago in 2006
    2025 Wendy
    Wen Pro Photo River Radio 2010
    Dane’s 12th Birthday(I’m too old to see that number so I’m guessing….Happy! Happy!
    2025 She-Shed
    In my grandfather’s hat. Yeah, I thought I was pretty cute…
    At The Palmer House In Chicago, Tuck, Wen, & Dane
    Tuck and his Mus-tashe
    Wendy & Larry…………. Yes, I’m pretty sure we were drunk!
    Wendy in Eugena Swimwear
    The front of the house when we get a little preachy…
    Autotrader.com Girls in Detroit Roxann,Gina, Cyndey, Heidi, Wendy, & Marjorie in Detroit.
    At the Baseball Hall of Fame at Tony Gwynn’s Induction in Cooperstown, NY
    Wendy Headshot Interesting 1989
    Rhon & Wendy 2008
    Larry & Wen 2007
    2010 Wendy
    Catherine and Wendy in San Francisco. Yes, I want to grow to up to be Catherine…
    Martha before she went crazy.
    Wendy Headshot 1989
    Wendy in High School 1983
    Wendy with bubble-brain
    National Accts Team in LA
    Rhon, Friday & Me
    Dane grilling burgers at Current River

    No one should like me THIS much! Get a life…

    Tuck & Dane when they liked each other

    ………………………………………………………………………………….Me at the MLB HOF in Cooperstown

    Titan on his bed

    ……………………………………………Wen & Brittney

    …………………………………………………………………………..Fam at Jack Buck

    Roxann & Me in photo booth

    ……………………………………………………………………..Family at Cardinal Game

    Momma Mae with cheesecake & Rhon in the background

    Margaret, Wen & Martha at Current River

    National Accounts Team

    Wendy & Cary at HOF for Tony Gwynn’s Induction

    Dane at Saluki Basketball

    Larry–Isn’t he good-looking?

    ……………………………………………Event at Wrigley. Heidi, Joel, Bonnie & Me

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………..I made friends at the Sox game

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    Wendy Hilt is from Murphysboro, Illinois and has two sons: Dane and Tucker. (They are Davis boys.) Wendy started her career in sales and really found a home for herself in radio with the launch of New Country Z100 in Southern Illinois. After her children were born she and the fam relocated to St. Louis where Wendy began several radio success stories. Most impressive is that she put her baseball knowledge to work and went to work for KMOX and the St. Louis Cardinals selling advertisements and promotions at Busch Stadium. In 1998 Wendy went to work in the internet industry with a national position handling six import vehicles traveling all over the US presenting the Autotrader.com Tier 2 programs. She retired from sales in 2011 and has relocated to a rural life in Makanda, Illinois.

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    I love Orchids! I’m the only person I know that grows them. Mine have bloomed when they felt like it. I’m still learning!

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    Wendy Hilt is from Murphysboro, Illinois and has two sons: Dane and Tucker. (They are Davis boys.) Wendy started her career in sales and really found a home for herself in radio with the launch of New Country Z100 in Southern Illinois. After her children were born she and the fam relocated to St. Louis where Wendy began several radio success stories. Most impressive is that she put her baseball knowledge to work and went to work for KMOX and the St. Louis Cardinals selling advertisements and promotions at Busch Stadium. In 1998 Wendy went to work in the internet industry with a national position handling six import vehicles traveling all over the US presenting the Autotrader.com Tier 2 programs. She retired from sales in 2011 and has relocated to a rural life in Makanda, Illinois.

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    “The most solid advice for a writer is this, I think: Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough.” –Ernest Hemingway

    “We are the same…people are people. They laugh, cry, feel and love and music seems to be the common denominator that brings us all together. Music cuts through all boundaries and goes right to the soul.” –Willie Nelson

    “Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.” –Theodore Roosevelt

    “In a competition of love we’ll all share in the victory no matter who comes in first.” –Mohammed Ali

    I don’t know who said this and it doesn’t matter:

    Behind every strong independent woman lies a broken little girl who had to learn how to get back up and to never depend on anyone.

    Here’s more:

    Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.

    The beautiful thing about life is that your past may have been difficult, get smarter. Your future can be extremely bright. So never lose hope because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

    A strong woman stands up for herself. A stronger woman stands up for everyone else.

    Make it happen. Shock everyone. Shock yourself. This mission is personal. It takes a lot to start over again. You owe it to yourself to become everything you’ve dreamed of. Be brave. Trust the magic of new beginnings. Things will find their shape.

    We might think we are nurturing our garden, but of course, it is our garden that is really nurturing us.

    Boundaries are not walls. They are doors with locks you control. You’re not being mean for saying no. You’re being wise. You’re allowed to choose who has access to your heart, your time, and your energy.

    I love this one:

    Children are meant to laugh uncontrollably, play with wild abandon, and make mistakes without fear of judgment. Let them take their time. Let them explore, dream, and live in the moment without the weight of unmet expectations. After all, childhood is not a rehearsal for life–it is life itself.

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    Wendy Hilt is from Murphysboro, Illinois and has two sons: Dane and Tucker. (They are Davis boys.) Wendy started her career in sales and really found a home for herself in radio with the launch of New Country Z100 in Southern Illinois. After her children were born she and the fam relocated to St. Louis where Wendy began several radio success stories. Most impressive is that she put her baseball knowledge to work and went to work for KMOX and the St. Louis Cardinals selling advertisements and promotions at Busch Stadium. In 1998 Wendy went to work in the internet industry with a national position handling six import vehicles traveling all over the US presenting the Autotrader.com Tier 2 programs. She retired from sales in 2011 and has relocated to a rural life in Makanda, Illinois.

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    The Current River represents many things to me: a place to be with my friends and my dear brother, Chris. It’s a great opportunity to kick back, leave the cell phones behind, and start drinking before noon.

    The Current River holds great memories for all of us: my first husband, my family, including my kids. No matter what was happening in mid-July, it didn’t matter. A trip down the clear blue water of a gentle current, carrying us within it, is in order. It’s how we relax and recharge for our real life.

  • click for more
    Wendy Hilt is from Murphysboro, Illinois and has two sons: Dane and Tucker. (They are Davis boys.) Wendy started her career in sales and really found a home for herself in radio with the launch of New Country Z100 in Southern Illinois. After her children were born she and the fam relocated to St. Louis where Wendy began several radio success stories. Most impressive is that she put her baseball knowledge to work and went to work for KMOX and the St. Louis Cardinals selling advertisements and promotions at Busch Stadium. In 1998 Wendy went to work in the internet industry with a national position handling six import vehicles traveling all over the US presenting the Autotrader.com Tier 2 programs. She retired from sales in 2011 and has relocated to a rural life in Makanda, Illinois.

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    Wendy Hilt, Owner of http://www.growinguphilt.com

    Phone: (314)604-6804

    wendyhilt@gmail.com

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    Wendy Hilt is from Murphysboro, Illinois and has two sons: Dane and Tucker. (They are Davis boys.) Wendy started her career in sales and really found a home for herself in radio with the launch of New Country Z100 in Southern Illinois. After her children were born she and the fam relocated to St. Louis where Wendy began several radio success stories. Most impressive is that she put her baseball knowledge to work and went to work for KMOX and the St. Louis Cardinals selling advertisements and promotions at Busch Stadium. In 1998 Wendy went to work in the internet industry with a national position handling six import vehicles traveling all over the US presenting the Autotrader.com Tier 2 programs. She retired from sales in 2011 and has relocated to a rural life in Makanda, Illinois.

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    This is Joanne Vogelpohl, Richard Hudson, Kevin Alfultis, Wendy Hilt. We all started in rural, small-market radio and made the jump to large-market radio in St. Louis.

    Joanne became the most significant account executive in all of St. Louis, spending time working for KEZK and a brief stint with KTRS to sell baseball broadcasts. Wendy and Joanne have known each other since the way back in Southern Illinois. Wendy refers to Joanne as her “Big Sister in radio.”

    Richard Hudson began his marketing career with Wendy in 1993 at Z100, moved to television and ultimately became a manager at Autotrader.com and other internet automotive sites.

    Kevin Alfultis began in Southeast Missouri, and worked in St. Louis with Wendy at KSLZ. Kevin worked as a top-biller at KEZK before leaving radio to also work for Autotrader.com. Kevin became a National Account Manager for ATC and other automotive sites.

    Wendy began her marketing career working for New Country Z100 in Southern Illinois. In 1992. In 1998, she moved to St. Louis and did stints in Country Radio, Top 40, and KMOX as a baseball Cardinal seller in 2004. Wendy left radio after that and went to work as a National Account Executive for Autotrader.com, handling six new car brands with Tier 2 advertising in the US. She retired in 2011.

  • click for more
    Wendy Hilt is from Murphysboro, Illinois and has two sons: Dane and Tucker. (They are Davis boys.) Wendy started her career in sales and really found a home for herself in radio with the launch of New Country Z100 in Southern Illinois. After her children were born she and the fam relocated to St. Louis where Wendy began several radio success stories. Most impressive is that she put her baseball knowledge to work and went to work for KMOX and the St. Louis Cardinals selling advertisements and promotions at Busch Stadium. In 1998 Wendy went to work in the internet industry with a national position handling six import vehicles traveling all over the US presenting the Autotrader.com Tier 2 programs. She retired from sales in 2011 and has relocated to a rural life in Makanda, Illinois.

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    A Memoir about the journey through success with bipolar disorder.

    “Growing up Hilt” is a 200+ page memoir by Wendy Hilt starting in childhood, teen years, first love, career start in local radio, and transitioning to large market radio in St. Louis. Working for KMOX and the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball broadcasts, she transitioned out of radio and into internet sales as a National Accounts Rep handling six brands of import vehicles.

    While handling a high-stress, high-demand job that focused on results, Wendy had two children (boys), and then she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and breast cancer. The bipolar diagnosis was a permanent condition that accompanied all of her work challenges, and she began therapy and medicine to balance her actions. The breast cancer treatment included surgery, radiation, and long-term medication therapy. The malignancy was cured, and Wendy preached for people to have their screening mammograms on time every year

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    Wendy Hilt is from Murphysboro, Illinois and has two sons: Dane and Tucker. (They are Davis boys.) Wendy started her career in sales and really found a home for herself in radio with the launch of New Country Z100 in Southern Illinois. After her children were born she and the fam relocated to St. Louis where Wendy began several radio success stories. Most impressive is that she put her baseball knowledge to work and went to work for KMOX and the St. Louis Cardinals selling advertisements and promotions at Busch Stadium. In 1998 Wendy went to work in the internet industry with a national position handling six import vehicles traveling all over the US presenting the Autotrader.com Tier 2 programs. She retired from sales in 2011 and has relocated to a rural life in Makanda, Illinois.

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    Wendy worked with various people in radio and at Autotrader.com and here are a sample of photos from those days.

    KMOX/Cardinal Broadcasts