My Memoir - Final Draft: The Neverending Story

The Never Ending Story: The Memoir of Tim Dills

When I was first born I didn’t cry, which evidently is something adults like babies to do when they are first born, so as a result they panic, and then they spank you. Of course, my mom had to tell me this because I didn’t remember any of it; maybe I just blocked it out, too painful to remember. I don’t know if it is a case of cause and effect but my mom also told me that I was a colicky baby. This means I cried a lot, especially in the evening, go figure. So, by the end of the day my mom would hand me over to my dad who seemed to be the only one who could calm me down. He did this miraculously by singing the theme song of Sanford and Son, go figure.

The first memory I have of living in our house in Burlington was when I was about two years old. I was playing in my bedroom eating apples, go figure. I had a baseboard heater under my window. I liked to climb up on it and look out the window. My mom would always say, “Tim, get off the heater!” I think she was afraid that I’d rip it out of the wall. Well, anyway, instead of ripping it out of the wall I slipped and sliced the back of my head open, not seriously, but I am talking about a half-inch gash. There was lots of blood and of course my mom freaked out and drove me straight to the emergency room. I ended up getting stitches and I can still actually feel the scar on my head. I still like to stand on baseboard heaters, go figure.

At the tender age of four my family took a trip to Disneyland. My mom was eight months pregnant with my soon to be annoying little brother, Nathan, also known as Squatch, go figure. I had so much fun but it was really hot. The heat didn’t stop me from enjoying the Peter Pan and E.T. rides. It was an amazing vacation that is topped off with the memory of sitting on the rooftop of our hotel watching the fireworks and eating ice cream with my dad. The cool taste of cookie dough ice cream feeling smooth on my tongue as bursts of color flew overhead. My mom was being a party pooper and said she was tired from walking around all day, go figure.

Shortly after this trip I got another big surprise. I became a big brother. On October 15, 1997 Nathan Alexander Dills entered the world. The first night he was home he would lay in his beautifully decorated puffy crib and cry. I said, “Mommy, Nathan’s crying again.” She came in and took him to her room. He slept there most of the time but eventually he began sleeping in his bed although he insists on sleeping with the light on even to this day, go figure.

Now with two children my parents liked to go out without us. So, we stay with either my dad’s parents. I called them Granny and Grandpa. Then there was my mom’s mom. We called her Nini. I think this is because when my older cousin Melissa was a baby she would try to call her by her first name, Anita, but it came out as Nini so all of the grandkids call her that to this day, go figure. Some of my best memories are of going to Nini’s house. She would always feed us French toast or pizza and then she would take us to the 76 station and we would get candy! When we’d spend the night at Nini’s we would pick cherries and raspberries. We would make pies. She is such a good cook! One time I told my mom that Nini made the very best French toast. I think my mom works really hard at making good French toast now because it’s delicious, I just don’t tell her so she’ll keep working on it.

The funny thing is my Nini would always (make) let us watch the movie, The Never Ending Story. The thing is I liked the first five times but after that it got really boring. But Nini was always so excited and insistent that we watch, over, and over, and over again. She would say, “Hey guys, who wants to watch the Never Ending Story!” We would inwardly grown, put on a brave face and smile, and nod our heads to say yes. It’s funny but we just didn’t want to hurt her feelings because I love my Nini.

I remember turning six and feeling really big. I had just started Kindergarten and I got the coolest cake ever. It had all of these little plastic motorcycles all over it and all of my family came to the party and visited with one another. Big Papa who always seems to say, “Hey, Jack!” There was Little Papa and Big Grandma who always gave me a card with a lovely check. My mom would have to remind me to look at the card too. Learning to say thank you even if it was a weird gift was something I had to learn how to do also. My mom called it grace and tact. I called it putting on a fake front but it’s a gift and the thought should be appreciated. I always had a great time with all of my cousins, family, and balloons. Even though one time our old dog Sasha popped a lot of them, go figure.

Sports have always been an important part of my life. I’ve played baseball, basketball, and football. Of all of the sports basketball is my favorite even though I’m not the tallest kid on the court, go figure.

Recently my grandmother died. She was really funny. She was always concerned how we were. She gave us so many tips on how we should be careful during everyday life. Some of them made us laugh and were soon what we called grannyisms. For example she said never lock ourselves in the bathroom while we take a bath because we might drown. Another one was never stick a knife in a toaster.

Well that’s my never ending story: for now.