Last night at 5 PM EST my grandmother passed away.

I reflected on this for quite some time and turned to video games as consolation. This is not an uncommon practice I think, as video games are a very popular escapist route. As I delved my way further into the high school life of Persona 4, I realized something. My grandmother, who recently passed, was one of the biggest enablers in my life in regards to video games.

When I was in elementary school, she would come to visit me and my brothers once a month. During said visit she would buy us one video game. Since it was largely impossible for three brothers to agree on a single game, we would take turns as to who got to pick the game. As a result I was exposed to games that I never would have chosen of my own volition (thanks for choosing Castlevania on the NES big bro, and little bro, you are welcome for Adventures of Lolo).

I further pondered that when most of us were younger, we had to rely on the adults in our life to provide us with video games, either by giving us an allowance, or by rewarding us. I know that I didn't buy my NES, Master System, Genesis, or SNES with "my own money".

My grandmother meant a lot more to me than a new video game once a month, but in the context of my hobby and this blog, my hat is off. To my parents, my grandmother, my cousin, and any adult that has enabled their kids to play video games. And if you are a parent that has kids and you are letting them game on, ha'ts off to you too.