Because we are in a glorious timeline where an Ocarina of Time remake is ACTUALLY HAPPENING OH MY GOD IT STILL DOESN’T FEEL REAL I’m feeling extra sentimental and wanted to show y’all one of most prized possessions: A Kmart Ocarina of Time pre-order bonus from 1998. (It’s the little things in life that mean the most.) However, I was not prepared to go down this incredibly emotional journey where I was forced to question everything I thought I knew. And now, I have more questions than answers.
For real though, I ABSOLUTELY remember when I got Ocarina of Time, the above CD and the t-shirt (RIP) in 1998. My entire family – and there were a LOT of us – always gathered at and squeezed into my grandma’s house on Christmas Eve. Her cozy house always smelled delicious – I can still smell the ham in the oven and her famous baked beans – and I’ll never ever forget the insane amount of presents there were. I mean, boxes of all shapes and sizes were spilling out from underneath the tree, I kid you not, to the point where half of her living room was inaccessible. As a child it really was a magical sight! Anyway, after we had all opened presents and were winding down I still remember the immense giddiness and excitement I felt – y’know, the kind you can really only experience as a kid? I distinctly remember sitting on the floor, leaning against my grandpa’s favorite recliner and reading my brand-new Garfield comic book. Knowing that the next day was Christmas, Ocarina of Time was waiting for me, and I still had a WEEK OFF OF SCHOOL FOR WINTER BREAK was just pure euphoria.