Likewise, it was really simulators that got me hooked.
Then I was on a BA 737 flight, asked to see the FD, they asked (when I said I was interested in simming) if I'd like the jumpseat.
I then told a friend about this a week or so later, who introduced me to a PPL, with an aeroplane at a local strip. He took me flying, and I was hooked.
He also introduced me to a web based flying list, and then found PPRuNe!
tKF