I'll never not think of Red Dead without thinking about my dad.

My dad and I have always had an odd relationship. I don't think we just ever really clicked with how to hang out or talk to each other all that much and, looking back, a lot of that would be on me. The only times we would directly hang out or bond, just the two of us, would be when he watched old westerns on TV and I'd join him, or when he would try to play Fifa 99 with me on the Nintendo 64. I always loved watching westerns with him and wanted to play more games with him, as it's the only activity I was really interested in a majority of the time, but a gamer my dad is not.

Then one day, on the drive into school, he said he had a surprise for me. He picked out a copy of Red Dead Redemption from his car door pocket and handed it to me, said he saw an advert on TV for it and how it had great reviews, and how he thought I would like it. I think it was his way of trying to bond with me. To say I really appreciated it at the time might be an overstatement (I was a shitty teen and really dislike the person I used to be, I hope I'm better now) but looking back, it might have been one of the best gifts I've received. Wish I could go back and give him the appreciation that gift deserved - only realising all of this now really. Going to give him a big thanks when I see him next.

I absolutely fell in love with the game and have loved it ever since. I love you, dad. Maybe I'll have finished RDR2 before I see him next!