i also had trouble with pointers while learning C, and, like everyone else, it seems so obvious now that i wonder what the hell my problem was. like learning to ride a bike, or drive a car with a manual transmission. i learned 8086 assembler before C and had no difficulty with indirection there.

for what its worth, your "aha" scenario would have just confused me more. even today, i have to think a bit before your second example makes sense to me.