How I began Wood Burning & Pyrography

I have been wood burning for about 3 or 4 years. I started doing it for fun just to pass the time and do something constructive. When I moved away from home to start college and live on my own, I didn't really have any spare time to do anything but work and go to class. I kind of dropped my hobby. I am in the Army Reserve and was mobilized in 2002. When all of my reserve buddies that were mobilized with me were sent back home, I was left alone with active duty soldiers that I didn't really know, and with nothing to do do during my off time. I picked my wood burning hobby back up. I started making signs for family members and friends. Everyone thought my signs were so good, and I started feeling really good about myself again. Wood burning helped me get through an active duty military tour alone by taking my mind off of things. I got back home and started working and going to school again and sort of left my hobby behind because of lack of time again. Recently I have gone through a lot of change in my personal life, both personally and professionally and have found time again to do the thing that has always been there to help me through different lags in my life. I am not in a rut now or anything like that, but I do have the time to do things that I didn't have time to do before. I also have people in my life that like what I make and don't think of it as just something that I'm doing to pass time. I'm happy and busy now, and I still have time to wood burn. When I see the looks on my friends and family members faces when I give them something I have made, it makes me feel good....like I have done something productive. HOW DID YOU START YOUR CRAFT???