Background is essential to what happened. I was a young, lost soul, mother of a three year old daughter, and immature in many ways. It would be that, to find my much-needed alone time, would spend many hours walking my dog(s). This was a lifelong habit, and nothing stopped me, not weather or darkness, relationships or motherhood. I would walk by myself anywhere humans were scarce. Would leave my daughter with family (she was safe) because the desire to be alone would overwhelm me.
I walked on a rare occasion with another. At one point, was doing some hiking at a large state reservoir with an in-law.

He was a miserable man, but he had a nice dog and liked to walk, so we'd meet at sunrise there in the parking lot and hike out together. We would walk far out into the woods and then, because he was not much of a trusted friend, would sooner or later feel self-conscious that I'd have to pee out all the coffee we'd drink. So, then I'd say to him to keep moving and I'd catch up at a jog. So, then went deep as I could into the woods, well off the path. The first time I did that was far out of his sight and having a break there by a log, kicked the log over just to cover the spot. I squinted in the dark leaves to see that under the rotten log was a rolled up, very old $1 bill. It was quite amazing to see! Was chuckling to myself...what a strange thing to find! I jogged back to my companion and told him I'd found a dollar, but he didn't care, I forgot about it very soon after.

Some time went by and again was invited to hike with my in -law at that huge reservoir. Again we met at sunrise and went far far out in the woods. He was crabbier and more miserable than ever and I vowed to not see him anymore. Meanwhile, had to pee again so told him to walk ahead and I will catch up. This time again, far off the path, knowing he walked slow and could easily catch up. I dug a slight hole again and just as before, I kicked the leaves-having forgotten all about the $1 bill. There, to my amazement, rolled up in the rotten leaves was a very old, disintegrated $5 bill. This time I felt a bit startled. I jogged back to my partner and showed him, he didn't care at all.

Some months went by. Now it was getting late in the fall. I was restless as always and wanted to be out by myself. Decided to go to the reservoir alone. It was a huge place, maybe even sort of dangerous in ways, with few people early on any Sunday morning. It had been raining hard all night, was hoping it would clear. I grabbed my dog and left before sun-up. When I arrived at the parking lot, was not a soul around, absolutely still, sun rising and complete isolation. Took my supplies with me and felt warm, happy and free. Full of joy to be out alone with my dog. We walked out, but this time we got off the path and went straight into the rain-soaked woods. I kept my eye on the sunrise to make sure we didn't get lost. Soon, there was no path at all and we were totally alone, I can feel it like it was yesterday, but it was decades ago. The leaves were yellow, and the wind blew them all around us, showers pouring from treetops. My feet were so light, we picked our way over a beautiful little knob and down an embankment. Up the other side I was alert, watching all around me, my dog also. All of a sudden, happened to glance down and there right at my feet-right at the very front of my toes- saw what looked like strange leaves. I reached down and discovered, in my hands...a store receipt with two dollars rolled up in it. This was curious and right away opened it up to look closer. The first thing I noticed, the receipt was totally dry, as were the two dollars wrapped inside. It indicated the purchase of one dog collar and one leash. At this I stopped suddenly and checked again, bills were dry, as was the paper receipt, the ink still sharp. It was so bizarre that for just a moment, thought it was my own from someplace and that I'd dropped it there. That's how the mind works.

As the reality sank in, suddenly my entire perception changed. In that moment I became so gripped with terror that it really has no name. I was sure beyond any doubt that someone must be following me. What was, just moments before, beautiful leaves and blissful aloneness, was now a holy terror of endless trees and no path. I felt physically cold, ice cold. To my shame, was so scared that instantly became disoriented. Took off at a run, as fast as I could go straight for the highway, which I knew if we kept running would end up there. I ran blindly, all of half an hour till at long last, ended up on the highway. I leashed my dog and walked back another mile or more to the parking lot, the sun now high in the sky. I was terrified to go to my car, but after circling and checking everything , I leaped inside and threw gravel in that deserted parking lot.

When I got home, there was no one to talk to about this, I mean, how? Why? The story is strange and kind of boring. So, I kept the fear to myself and told no one about what happened. I never stepped foot there again. The very notion of driving past there gave me shudders.

Months went by, winter passed and it was early spring. As usual, was out alone walking my dog, but this time, was nearer home. We were in a nature center in town, well known for its historical covered bridge. I was making my way along the side of the pond, a very beautiful day, all the nicer that not a soul was around. Soon, we walked under the pilings of the covered bridge slipping on the rocks. My dog alerted and I glanced up to see what looked like a figure moving through the wooded area on the opposite side of the pond. I thought nothing of it except annoyance that someone was coming. I went to the edge of the bridge and sat just below on the rocks to let them pass. I felt like the troll in the story of the "Three Billy Goats Gruff".

Slowly, ever so slowly a figure came shuffling and soon we heard the distinct tapping on the wooden floor of the bridge. As it slowed, I looked up to see who it was and saw a face staring at me from over the side. It was a very old man, leaning heavily on a wooden cane. He was dressed shabbily and had a long scraggly white beard. At first, I assumed he was perhaps a homeless person or maybe even a veteran as they often slept in the park or made camps. No, he was truly ancient, like a nursing home patient, trembling hands and leaning unsteady legs against the bridge.

Can remember this exchange like it was an hour ago...

He looked right at me and gave a happy shout "Hello!! How are you?" In that era my character was that of an unwell person. The only soft spot in my soul was for elderly people and his greeting caused my guard to let down. He was so frail and totally harmless looking that I soon decided to talk to him and replied in turn and said "I'm fine, how are you?"

He said to me, " I haven't seen you, how have you been?"

I replied to him, "You haven't seen me? How do you see me?"

He answered, "I see you, sure, I can always see you."

I replied, "I don't know how you can see me" ( I remember, did not ask him "how do you know me?" Only repeated his words)

He looked right at me, his eyes were so blue, and he said "Yes, you like to walk your dogs, don't you? I see you always when you walk them" And then he quietly, mumbling, rambled off some of my secret haunts while gesturing with his cane.

At this remark I felt strangely calm, and I said, "Yes, I do."

He repeated softly, "Yes, you walk all around, everywhere!" and gave a small encouraging chuckle.

I felt confused and shy but not yet afraid. He had an engaging sort of way to him.

I calmly affirmed that there were some places where I no longer walked. I told him, maybe you saw me at the reservoir, but I don't go there anymore."

He didn't miss a beat and replied, "No, you don't go there anymore. I know, something happened down there". He looked dismayed.

I looked up at him, face so sweet looking and soft spoken, was trying to make sense of it.

So, then I said "There's creepy stuff down there."

This is what he said...

"Yes, you find strange things there."

I said "yes, creepy money or something"

"Yes, strange money down there! ha ha! You find a lot of money down there, don't you?" ha ha!! (I can hardly type it, my hands are sweating.)

I exclaimed that yes, there was strange money! How did he know about that?

"Oh", he said, "that can be explained. Many years ago, a bank in [ ] was robbed and the thief hid all the money he had stolen down in that reservoir. The money was never recovered and is still there to this day."

In spite of him being so tiny, suddenly I felt trapped. Once his words sank in, I knew that story could not be true because of the dog leash receipt and two dry bills folded in. It was a small rural town. There was no bank. But I wanted to believe him!

I sat there below the bridge speechless. After a pause, I was looking him over again...asked him, how did he get in the park? He equivocated, mumbled, and lifted his cane to the direction of the road. There was no path or parking there, so I asked him, “Did you walk in on a path?”

He said yes, he came in from the road. I saw he could hardly walk so this made no sense. I said, so you're parked on the road? He said, "Yes I parked on the road," and indicated the direction he'd come from. (He did a good deal of gesturing with his cane.)

Then we sat for a moment again in silence. I looked to my dog for some sense of things, but my dog completely ignored him.

I eventually got up the courage to say, "I have to go home now. It was nice talking to you."

He got excited right then and said, "No, I'm here to tell you something. I want you to listen to me before you go."

At this I thought, ok, he's finally going to explain it!! So, I thought a wonderful dramatic revelation was forthcoming!

He says to me..."I want you to listen and never forget: You can never tell what will happen. Ok? That's what I'm here to tell you. Never forget it." And he looked at me with a warm, sincere smile.

With feelings that beg description, I got up and promised to remember his words. He bid me a quick good bye and said he will see me again soon. (I don't remember his exact parting words; my thoughts were spinning.)

I was a fast runner in the 1980s and walked slowly past him, respectfully, my dog at my side still ignoring him. Past him, across the bridge and then immediately flew like a bat out of hell to my car which was parked at the front entrance. I turned the key and screamed out of the parking lot. I circled the entire park twice and there was not a trace of him or his car. In fact, there was no plausible way a man so old and crippled could have traveled that far even if he'd followed the trail.

At this, I gave up and went home, profoundly shaken. Never told anyone the details about it until 20 years later. I told my mother just before she died.

Thank you for reading this. It feels like the weight of a thousand years is off my shoulders.

This was only one of many strange encounters I've had, but it was also the most vexing and enduring.