I just finished playing Final Fantasy on the Famicom.
Yes, the original Final Fantasy on the original Famicom. I just bought both last week for about ¥4400.
I can try to pretend that it was my current love for Japanese food and culture that got me here today, but I would be lying. And as fun as breaking commandments is, it is just plain rude. My five dollar copy of Final Fantasy from a pile of sun damaged carts at Cow Town probably had more impact on my life than many things I was told by my high school teachers. Try as you might, you can’t really pick what inspires you. Even if you are being force fed Robert Frost at a mile per minute.
So here I am, in Japan, playing the Japanese game that eventually got my to study Japanese and live in Japan. And I know my mother is going to read this and comment about me spending money, but at least I am keeping my liver slightly healthier these days. I feel like an eternally watched child, but that is one of the risks of putting yourself out here on the internet.
So what the hell am I even rambling about anyway? I guess upon finishing this game for the umpteenth time, but finally in Japan in Japanese, a goal I never actually had, I actually feel some sort of weird peace. Nothing is better but nothing should be better. Everything is as it is and I have more control over that then I want to believe.
So with all due respect to the aforementioned Mr. Frost, it was whacking imps that got me where I am today. And I’m all the better for it.
