I first soloed in a Piper Colt at 17. My dad used to fly Beech 18s for Allegheny Airlines in the early 50s delivering mail. Later he would teach (was a CFI) in exchange for use of others airplanes. Early 70s he bought the Colt. But he hired someone else to formally give me lessons. After high school I went straight to the service and flew Hueys and 58s (jet rangers). Used my GI bill to get my Commercial Instrument ticket.
Have a commercial/instrument ticket for Rotary Wing and Airplane single engine land. Its been many years since I've flown now. Mostly busy as a JW all those years. But I never lost the love of anything with wings. Even in high school, when everyone else was in love with cars, I could couldn't care less about them. My heart was in the sky.