I've been thinking of writing an autobiography or memoir but it just never comes together for me but I figured if I write one story at a time and post it on my blog maybe once a month, I can do that. Maybe one day I'll pull all the stories together and put them in a book but for now I'll just share some stories with you about my childhood. Some of the stories will be happy, some sad and some horrific because that was my childhood. But they will all be real, things that actually happened. If it seems like something that people enjoy reading maybe I'll keep it going. These stories will not be in any kind of order, I'll just write them as they come to me.
Seeing A Wolf In Big Bear, Ca
When I was about 10 years old and my parents were still married, we along with my uncle Jack and aunt Cecilia took a trip to Big Bear, Ca and they rented a big, four bedroom cabin. I actually had a good time there because it was during the Winter and there weren't a lot of bugs out. One morning after breakfast my mom was putting a plate of scraps outside for whatever wildlife wanted it and after a few minutes when she didn't come back inside, I opened the back door and found my mom on the back steps with a wolf. She was just sitting there petting it and feeding it the scraps from the plate.
My mom told me that she had seen it limping and pulled something out of its paw and now he was just sitting there letting her pet it. (I don't know if she actually pulled anything out of his paw or not) My mom told me I could come out and sit on the steps and pet him so I did. Now remember my parents were alcoholics and she had probably already started drinking that morning. Had she been sober I don't know that she would have told me to come out and pet a wild animal.
But I did and he just sat there let us pet him. A few minutes later my uncle Jack opened the door and tried to stay calm as he told us to get away from the damn wolf and get back inside. We just sat there. lol My mom kept saying he was friendly. My dad came over and lost his mind. He was trying not to yell because he didn't want to startle the animal but he kept saying, "Peggy, that's a damn wolf! Get away from the damn wolf!" My dad made me go inside and then my mom went inside and my uncle and dad were so mad that not only had my mom been out there with a wild animal but she had let me come out too.
My mom kept leaving plates of food outside for the wolf and other animals while we were there but I never saw the wolf again.
Now as an adult I'm not sure if it was a wolf or coyote. They look similar in the face, so it could have been a coyote that we sat there and were petting. It was still pretty exciting.
That would have been very exciting - and a lovely memory to have.
ReplyDeleteIt was exciting. And a fun memory.
DeleteIf it really was a wolf, your uncle had the right of it, and the three of you are lucky to be alive. Wolves may look like dogs, but their behavior is quite different. They don't have that history of twenty thousand years of domestication making them friendly to humans.
ReplyDeleteAs to whether it might actually have been a coyote, do you remember how big it was? Most wolves are bigger than people think, bigger than dogs, similar in body weight to a human. If it was smaller than that, it might have been a coyote, or a wolf cub (which might explain it not attacking you -- young animals tend to be less aggressive).
It's odd that it was alone since wolves normally live in packs. If it was limping, maybe the others left it behind because it couldn't keep up.
I've seen videos of wolves and this animal wasn't really huge, more like the size of a large German Shepherd. So I don't know for sure if it was a young wolf, a large dog, a hybrid, or coyote.
DeleteOkay wow, great vacation memory but wow it could have had a much darker ending. Glad it was friendly whatever it was
ReplyDeleteOh I know. I'm glad it was friendly too. Maybe it was used to people feeding it.
DeleteAt least this was a good one...though potentially dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI mean a good experience, not a good wolf LOL. That too, anyway, I suppose...
DeleteYeah, it was a friendly animal whatever it was. And a good memory.
DeleteScary but she meant well, glad you guys were ok
ReplyDeleteShe did, she loved animals.
DeleteThat's amazing. And so funny. I can just hear your dad and uncle saying, "Get away from the damn wolf." :D
ReplyDeletelmao They were so freaked out.
DeleteThat is an amazing story. and yes while technically I guess that was a dangerous situation, I imagine it was amazing t obe that close to the animal. A once in a lifetime thing maybe :)
ReplyDeleteOh definitely.
DeleteThat is crazy, but wow, she would be roasted on social media today for putting out food for an animal! Besides encouraging a kid to pet a wild animal! Yeah, I'd have no idea how to distinguish between a wolf and a coyote.
ReplyDeletelol Oh I know. I still have no idea but it was an experience.
DeleteWhat a great story.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteThat is really cool, that sounds like something I would have done.
ReplyDeletelol I say one of these days I'm going to get hurt by petting the wrong animal.
DeleteWonderful story, Mary. Thanks for sharing. A few more and you can start putting together your own book.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Maybe one day I will.
DeleteIncredible story, something special and a fantastic memory. A nice memory that you'll always have.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Deletewow. what a story
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteEven though that was pretty dangerous it does sound neat. Glad you didn't get hurt, Mary. Sounds like a nice trip.
ReplyDeleteThere were some good parts to this trip. This was definitely one of them.
DeleteWow! That's a great memory - especially since no on was hurt.
ReplyDelete