My dad passed away in April. He had dementia and that exacerbated the virus that he’d contracted and sadly didn’t recover from. It’s been a difficult few months, not really dealing with the grief (if there is such a way) and trying not to look back too much for fear of breaking down and not being able to stop. But a few days ago, I listened to an album that my dad used to play in the car and it reminded me of a particular car journey and the game I was playing at the time. Now, whenever I listen, I think of that playthrough.
I got into the Pokémon craze through the anime first before getting my first game—Pokémon Blue—in 1998 along with a new Game Boy DMG. It was my first console and one of my first games and it took me 13 months to beat (including an unnecessarily long Misty fight). Then a few weeks later, I got Pokémon Yellow for Christmas. It was the same game but with new sprites and an altered story inspired by the anime. And you got to walk around with Pikachu! One of my fondest memories of that first playthrough, though, was wandering around Fuchsia City.
It was home to the Safari Zone, Koga’s gym, the Warden’s house and one of the Fishing Gurus. This one gave you a Good Rod (I always forgot that it wasn’t the Super Rod, which you got on one of the routes leading to Fuchsia City) and in the back of both houses was a small stretch of water.
Paul Young was playing—specifically his From Time to Time – The Singles Collection compilation—and I was just fishing in that water, hoping to get something cool. I think I miss that part of playing as a kid; just fishing or wandering around in the grass waiting for the right encounter. There was no speed up and no deep expectations. You kept playing until you got what you wanted and the patience stayed with you.
I don’t remember what I caught but I remember encountering a Gyarados which was a 10% encounter and the rarest of the available Pokémon in that water. Deceptively big water, I might add! That encounter, the time spent fishing, and the music that was playing are forever etched into my mind. They’re inseparable memories and I’m grateful to have had all of those experiences. Car journeys were always good because my dad played the best mixtapes that he made himself. Pokémon has stayed with me ever since. My dad may no longer be alive but he and his music tastes live on in me and next time I’m in Fuchsia, maybe I’ll try catch that Gyarados—no speed up.