It was about 3:40 am a few nights before thanksgiving 2016. i stepped onto the deck to have a cigarette. i sat down, and looked up at the beautiful clear sky. kind of northeast, straight up i saw a golden ball enter line of sight near a star position, falling rapidly with a firry tail, falling toward the northwest at a high rate of speed. i thought it was falling space junk, or a falling star, possibly a meteor. that thought changed quickly when the thing stopped instantly off in the far distant sky just above tree level--toward the northwest. immediately it changed course and shot toward my place in a straight line heading a southeast direction. i am watching intently as it only took a second or two for the thing to arrive directly above me and hover there for fifteen seconds or so. it was huge! a disc shinning bright gold with no other lights on the bottom, and no sound. it had to be near 100 feet in diameter, probably 100 feet above me. i was amazed! then a finger of dread played with my insides as i recalled stories of abduction. i stood, put out the cigarette, and backed into the house keeping my eyes on the object. once i stepped through the doorway, it shot straight up at an unbelievable speed heading back to the point above from where it came. i never believed in ufos! never! i am sixty-two years old and always thought this was bs. i thought anyone claiming to have seen one was delusional or their was some rational explanation other than a ufo/aliens. after this incident, i am a believer!!!