Unconventional Playmate

When I was younger, I absolutely loved this movie about a little girl who had an imaginary friend... it's called Drop Dead Fred. I could watch it over and over again, sincerely laughing in all the same spots (a hundred times over) and never tiring of the love this little girl had for her "friend" Fred. I see that same kind of love growing inmy own son. I was reminded of this movie today after my son handed me the phone and said "Hooha said goodbye. She needed to go." He really had been talking to my mom (whom he calls Hooha) and after a short "Love you mom... bye," I turned the phone off, only to realize by the timer it has on it that Ryland had been on the phone with her for 43min and 27sec!!! He calls my parents most every day and talks as quickly as he can get his words out, while he walks around the house "showing them things." He literally plays with her as if she were physically here with him. Today I heard him saying "You're chasing me..." (as he was laughing), so I quietly walked downstairs to see what the fuss was about. He was holding the phone behind his back and running in all directions in the basement. Hooha really was chasing him. How funny is that? He often holds the phone up to his train tracks and proceeds to have her "push" a train or two around the track. I love that he doesn't skip a beat about the fact that she isn't actually here. Though I think my mom is crazy to let him keep her on the phone for long periods of time, I also love that she truly wants to be with him that bad. I know that he will probably always remember his playdates.... ie phone calls to his Hooha. I can only hope he holds onto that desire for at least the next 25 years or so.