Though it might have been one of the first RPGs I heard someone describing, D&D was not the first RPG I played. It would be three years later when one of my friends in my gaming group began running D&D, and even then I resisted. But as we got into it (merging with another group), I let that go and fell into the mystique, the magic, the mayhem, and the marvel. 36 years later, across 50+ people and many groups, through campaigns and one-shots, I'm still playing. And I can even remember a lot of what happened in those games, whom I was with, those memorable moments both with the characters and also, even more so, with the players. Chris puts it well with the "shared experience" and that instant connection it creates. It has been an absolute boon and joy in my life, and I look forward to celebrating D&D 100 on my 100th as well.