Two things:

First memory:

A dude borrowed Final Fantasy 7 (all CDs and the box) from me, and never returned them. This was after I already lost one pack of discs because some kid scratched them all :(

After two years, I finally got my hands on FF7. That was the best time of my gaming-life. I played through once. Then another time, Then another 5 times. All within two or three months of time. I was in love with the game - emotions, story, characters, Cloud's dress... Everything was perfect, and I still love it (played it again last year when I bought it on Steam).

This leads up to the Second memory:

A friend gave me the FF8 Demo. I played it for hours and hours. Every time the same thing. Round and round. And that went on for about six months. I was going crazy because I couldn't find the game in local stores (I live in Bosnia Herzegovina), and I didn't have the money or ways to order the game from elsewhere. I didn't have an internet connection, so I couldn't even torrent it.

Then I met a guy who had the game. He said he didn't like it, it was too complicated and didn't have enough action. Obviously, I borrowed it from him, and it stayed with me until I got my own copy two years later. And again - hours, days, months passed.

To me, Final Fantasy is not just a game. It's not just a story. The games helped me develop into the person I am today. They thought me so much about people, politics, war, love... The Final Fantasy series is the only thing that gives me the same (or even better) feeling as reading a book. It makes me excited for the things to come, and leaves memories behind that will stay with me for the rest of my life.