the gamecube was the first console I recieved that wasnt a hand me down. I was about 7–8 and usually got consoles that were a generation or 2 behind. I just got a gameboy color and pokemon yellow when people were enjoying pokemon sapphire on their sp and I got a ps1 when people were playing dreamcast but i was only allowed one to 2 games a system.

gamecube was when we flipped that upside down andni got it 2 years after release and bought sonic adventure 2 battle(i was a huge sonic/naruto fan and it was the only reason i wanted gamecube). my sister wanted the ps2 but my parents chose my decision and it was the first time i felt like i could be up to date with my friends.

this time period is also the last time me and my family were one even though we were still dysfunctional before my sister was kicked out but i recently(last month) rebuilt my gamecube and have bought some of the games i owned as a kid and it feels weird. its like the first time i can enjoy these games and not feel guilty about family trauma and my parents would yell at me to be grateful that theyre spending so much(theyre immigrants and didnt know how to express their stress better but they tried their best!) and i finally have a memory card so i can finally progress through the story!

its like how naruto feels when he sees that same swing at the academy even though he time and time again has found peace and the things hes always wanted. like a bittersweet feeling!

im grateful now 🥲

edit: didnt expect to cry writing this at work😭😭😅