How were you introduced to Tolkien?

When I was in seventh grade I had a wonderful english instructor who loved Tolkien. For part of our studies we read the Hobbit as a class divided up into three teams. There was a HUGE map of Middle-earth on one side of the classroom that charted our progress through the book, and depending on how well you did in your team, your group would advance farther through the map and gain points. He made the story fun and I really enjoyed it. My Mom bought me the boxed set of the LOTR with the Hobbit included afterwards (I still have it - the pages are battered and it is 15 years old and very special to me!) My Mom also has always loved Tolkien and we even have a cat who's name is Frodo, one in the past who was named Gandalf, and we almost had two parakeets named Pippin and Merry when I was 5(I guess Dad wasn't to keen on that idea so they were named something else!) So with the influences from my English teacher and my Mother I have always loved Tolkien!