I have a distinct memory of walking out into the forest as a kid with my father, sibling, and dogs. I knew those woods like the back of my hand. I still know them well and could go back in and find distinct trees and paths.

But this memory had us crawl under a dense thicket of branches and we found ourselves face to face with a pack of wolves. Five of them. They all came out from over this mound ahead of us, one stood on top. The others moved around to the sides kind of or in-between us and the one on the mound.

I distinctly remember not being afraid. My dogs were calm. My family was calm. The wolves were at ease. I looked the one in front of us in the eyes and felt warmth. And then, one by one, they turned and left.

Ive tried to go back to the exact spot several times, but it’s not there. I’ve checked satellite imagery. I’ve gone through the other woods that my family frequented for hiking. Nothing.

So i dismissed it for many years (~20ish). It came back as a distant memory a few years ago and I asked my brother and sister if they’d remembered it. They didn’t. And I don’t remember which one was with me. So I went to ask my dad. As I started asking about it, he explained the rest of the memory. He, too, remembers it. But he also couldn’t find his way back there. It was my brother who was with us.

Neither of us can explain the situation.

There are several other things, but that’s one of my greatest life mysteries, for sure.