Hi Pugillistic Animus,
You will see birds, rivers, hurricanes, FCS, etc. otherwise after reading James Gleick about fractals ... A good index will help you to sort different matters after a first cross-reading (just a suggestion). Math is often showed as interesting at abstract objects, Nobody knows what an abstract object is ! We have only senses to discover new objects. In our brain we can only play with them !
Some teacher will tell about "linear combination"
another about "linear shape"
for the same thing : you see, smell, taste, listen, and touch the latter, the first stays a mystery... Go with the good teacher !
Faites de beaux rêves !