My first was really more like my family's. We got Pokemon Red in March of 2000. I had been into Pokemon for a long time, though. I just didn't have a Gameboy. But we had an N64 and Pokemon Stadium, so the family played through Pokemon Red on that. I had been collecting cards since before then, though.
I got Blue and Yellow for my birthday of 2000. :)
Got Silver (brother got Gold), Crystal, Sapphire (brother got Ruby), Emerald, and Diamond (brother got Pearl) the day they came out. I was hooked on Pokemon.