Almost twenty years ago yesterday, my Grandma Joe passed away. I had just turned 13 and it was the first real death and funeral I actually remembered. Each year on the 23rd, I remember her by saying a little prayer for both Grandma and my dad, since it was his mom. It's my own way of letting her know I remember and good way for my kids to have some neat memories of a family member they've never met.

Or so I thought.

Gunny has a new friend and I was introduced to her yesterday. Her name is Mrs. Grumpy and she's an "owed yady." She likes to sit on the couch and enjoys watching the kitties play. Her preferred resting spot is on Gunny's Spiderman blankie, either on the couch or just next to it. She loves C-dub and Taters but isn't so sure about Mom and Dad.

She's Gunny's first imaginary friend and it's seriously freaking me out.

I thought Gunny had just thought of a new name for the kittens but he was adamant that it was a "yady." He'd walk over and pat the couch where he said that Mrs. Grumpy was sitting. A few minutes later, he'd tell me that Mrs. Grumpy was "yaffing" or "goin' outta da room," and then point to a certain area. It was so strange to see him act like that; as if he thought there was a real person there.

Taters is freaked out and wants me to buy a Oujia board so that she can "talk" to Mrs. Grumpy. I vetoed that plan. She swears she's feeling temperature changes and has a tingly back of the neck feeling whenever she sits on the couch. No more "Goosebumps" books for her and certainly no more "Ghost Hunters."

Is it coincidental that he discovered an imaginary old lady friend named after my Grandma's personality on the anniversary of her death? That was a mouthful but my nerves are as frazzled as that last sentence sounded.

What do you think? Is it Grandma Joe? Or could it be just the active imagination of an almost three year old? I'm not sure what I believe but I don't think anyone can have too many angels looking after them.