It was in the spring of this year, 2008, that my longing to play sonic 2 finally got the better of me, and so I set out on a quest, knowing full well, that my summer was to be spent searching high and low for a Sega Genesis and paddles, worthy of my seasoned thumbs.

Luckily enough for me, I found one such system at a nearby flea market. Elated at my discovery, I promptly asked:

“How much for the SEGA Genesis?” My wide eyes surely betraying my wallet, the man answered.

$45, with one controller and one game.

My heart sunk low in my stomach at hearing this. How was I to justify $45, just to play games I’d grown out of a decade earlier?

I dolefully decided to try my luck elsewhere…

It seemed like months passed as I slunk around the rest of the bartering tables. How likely was it that yet another Sega genesis could be found in this cobbled mess of plywood tables.  The trivial  junk peppering their surfaces did little to reduced my angst, and that’s when I saw them…

Dangling out of an old cardboard box like so much old trash waiting to be thrown away, were TWO SEGA Genesis Controllers. As dusty and old as they seemed, I briefly considered leaving them to their doom, but smacking myself briskly in the face, and getting close enough to see it was indeed a complete genesis, I choose wisely to inquire as to It’s price.

I’ll never forget the response I received,

“Did you want both or just one of them? Heck, they’re not gonna sell, you can take them both for $10.”

My mind reeled at his statement, surely my ears had been mistaken, TWO SEGA GENESIS, for TEN DOLLARS! but sure enough as I peered deeper into the box there was not only a slew of games, and five controllers, but also TWO SEGA GENESIS!

I almost god rug burn on my hand from reaching for my wallet so quickly.

And so I was homeward bound, box of classic video games in tow, and ready to finally finish some of the first video games I’d ever sworn to beat.