The tragic story of my first GameBoy

Sometimes I wonder why I've stuck so firmly to Nintendo all these years. Some of my earliest video game memories involve the Super Nintendo, then the Nintendo 64. The NES didn't come until after both of those, if I recall correctly. Unlike most other hardcore gamers, I was by no means "born with a controller in my hand." Heck, my first go at Ocarina of Time was disastrous.

But there was something that bridged me into the world of video games: the Pokemon animated series. Yep, I blame it all on that cartoon show. It was a revelation to me that the cartoon actually stemmed from the best-selling GameBoy games, Pokemon Blue version and Pokemon Red version. That was when I knew I had to get a GameBoy. When that dream became a reality, the GameBoy Color had already hit the market. I got a beautiful GBC with clear purple casing for Christmas one year. The one game I got to go with it was SpongeBob SquarePants: Legend of the Lost Spatula. I struggled with that game, though my neighbor beat the whole thing in about an hour.

It was only a matter of time before I had the money to get Pokemon Gold or Pokemon Silver. Before that time came, however, "it" happened. I left the system on the bleachers in the gym during PE one day. About half way down the hall afterwards, I realized I had forgotten it. I ran back quickly to retrieve it, only to discover that it was gone. Stolen, most likely. I was in fourth grade at the time, and not brave enough to go to the principal's office for help recovering it. To this day, I wonder what happened to that beloved GameBoy Color of mine. Could it still be out there somewhere? Pokemon FireRed, a GameBoy Advance game, would be the first Pokemon game I enjoyed. Have a great week, and take care of your small electronics!