Since Regan was little we've always talked about my Dad with her. We keep a picture on the fridge and she often looks at photos of him with me.
Over the last year she has really talked about him a lot; like she knows him. She'll often say "Pop-Pop gave this to me", "Pop-Pop is in Heaven". And this Summer she even looked in the clouds and said "I see Pop-Pop".
Today, she asked me to help her open a box; her Hallmark ornament that she got in her stocking from my Mom. While we were opening it she says "Pop-Pop gave this to me, did you know that Mom, I talk to him, he was your Dad, he's in Heaven, I never met Pop-Pop but he talks to me". I immediately broke down in tears as she doesn't know it but the tradition of the Hallmark ornament was started by my Mom on Christmas 1986; the first Christmas without my Dad. Mom said it was from him to us. And then when the kids were born, she continued that tradition with them. I've never told Regan all of this, just that Nonna gave them to us. Maybe she's heard us talk? Or maybe she does talk to him. Either way, she feels like she knows him even if they've never met.
Tonight before bed, I asked her what they talk about and she said "Well, lots of stuff like animals and airplanes and bikes". That makes perfect sense! She loves all of those things and my Dad loved planes. He was working on his pilot's license when he died.
Whether she talks to him, or just has a very vivid imagination, there's no better "imaginary" person to talk to than my Dad that's for sure!
