Meet Ho-ha, our invisible family member

I've mentioned Ho-ha in previous posts. I thought I'd introduce him to the world.

Ho-ha came to live with us when Hannah was about two years old, a rather young age to invent an imaginary friend. It was also the same year she named her purple plush bunny rabbit, "Goat." Ho-ha quickly became a friend for reasons of security. He had to go everywhere with us. Hannah would insist upon it, and cry if we "forgot Ho-ha."

Ho-ha fits into the average sized pants pocket. It's his preferred form of travel. He's mischievous, but has never done anything seriously wrong. He likes to make jokes and play pranks on people. He says very silly things from time to time. Hannah, worried about Ho-ha's ability to stay home alone, carried Ho-ha in her pocket for at least a year until Ho-ha and I could convince her he was big enough and brave enough to be home. He's a bit of a home-body and would rather not go out when he doesn't feel like it. Sometimes he comes with us, but because he can be rather shy, will decide to stay in the car.

Ho-ha doesn't eat a whole lot and doesn't take up a whole lot of space. We just have to be careful not to sit on Ho-ha. Since he's invisible, and rather small, he's easy to miss. Thankfully, he's rather resilient. Even when squashed, he seems to bounce back.

"You sat on Ho-ha."

"No I didn't, he's sitting right there," I insisted in one conversation.

"No he's not. You sat on him. You have to get up Mama," Hannah replied more adamant.

"Look, see. I can see Ho-ha right here. He's sitting next to me eating a granola bar."

"OH!" Hannah answered. " I didn't see that. He's so small. Silly Ho-ha."

Silly Ho-ha. Hannah calls him silly a lot. I wouldn't really know. I don't converse with Ho-ha like she does.

Ho-ha enjoys playing lots of games, tag, hide and seek, games like that. He loves to swing on the swings. Chick-fil-A is Ho-ha's favorite restaurant. Sometimes Ho-ha sneaks downstairs in the middle of the night for a snack. Sometimes Ho-ha is afraid of the dark.

At times Ho-ha goes away and we think he most likely won't come back this time. But somehow he always does. Lately, he's been a little more subdued. Someday, when Ho-ha and Hannah go their separate ways, I think I'm going to miss him. ;-)