Similar to the OP, I had an AWOL dad. He hunts. He's always had guns. (My younger half brother hunts with him.) I remember hunting with my dad once when I was about 6-7 ('79-'80 or so). Shot a .22 rifle. And that was it.

In 2007 or 2008, the pistol bug bit me when I wasn't even looking. A friend is trained in "executive protection" and carries a Glock 90% of the time. His shooting skills are incredible. I had seen an ad for a gun show, so I told him, "let's go to the gun show this weekend. Help me pick out a pistol." His face lit up.

I handled a ton of pistols and none felt better than the SW99s. The same day I found another SW99 with the QA trigger at a gun store and bought it. A year later I got my HCP. And a few thousand rounds and a few more pistols later, here I am.