Same exact story - I was perhaps 9 or 10 and got to Beej's work on sockets. It was one of the more accessible things available to me (or known to me). I remember reading Stevens books next.

So interesting that so many people have the same experience

Same story here - 1998, teenager, unable to understand socket programming until I came across Beej’s guide at CSU Chico. Thank you Beej!