I don't believe in ghosts -- really, I don't -- but I am almost completely convinced that our cat, Lucy, can see, well, something the rest of us can't see. In fact, I think the cat and Caroline might be teaming up to somehow combat these unseen visitors ... that I totally don't believe in.
First off, I only recently learned that it's common lore that cats can see ghosts, but once I heard that something clicked inside my head and I thought, "Yep, that makes sense."
If you have a cat, this needs no further explanation, but indulge me as I break it down for those with canine companions.
Cats have the tendency to reach for something that just isn't there. They'll stare off at nothing and meow as if they're trying to let you know the ghost of Steve Jobs is very disappointed at your switch to Android from iPhone. (Sorry Steve. I'm switching back soon.) And based on what I've observed with my own cat as well as watching countless cat videos on YouTube, cats will be lying down, comfortable and content, when out of nowhere they'll jump three feet in the air and dart off to another room.
Why? Ghosts, that's why.
If you think about a dogs ability to sense an imminent storm well before it actually hits, which I've witnessed a number of times in my life, then it's not completely ridiculous that cats can see ghosts ... except that storms are real and ghosts aren't.
There have also been a few times that I was more than convinced that Caroline was seeing ghosts.
One night, a few weeks ago, we put her to bed like we always do. We kissed her and her stuffed bear; We turned on her Minnie Mouse star light; and we turned the light out and closed the door. Same as always.
But then things got a little weird.
After about half-an-hour in her room, we start to here this noise. This little giggle. My first thought was that the kids in my neighborhood were just being loud. Then, as the giggle turned into this raucous laughter, I realized it was Caroline. When I went to check on her she was standing up in her bed, looking toward one corner of the room, laughing hysterically.
The only way I could explain this type of laughter, which is usually the result of a very intense tickle fight, was that the ghost of Robin Williams was in the corner doing his bit about how the Scottish invented golf. (It's a great bit. Definitely check it out.)
Since she clearly wasn't ready to sleep, Ashley and I let her stay up a little longer. We played games and ran around the house really trying to wear her out. When she finally started to crash we put her back to bed.
Ah, silence.
But it didn't last. Once again, after some time had passed, we hear her burst into laughter. At that point it was just getting creepy.
She hasn't done that since that night, but she will frequently point at nothing and say, "What's that?" or "Who's that?" Does she just like saying those phrases, or is there really something there that we can't see?
Like I said before, I absolutely do not believe in ghosts. They don't exist. There's just no way. But sometimes that's the only answer I can come up with for why Lucy or Caroline are acting the way they are.
Cats and babies are weird. They do weird things that make little to no sense. They're also ridiculously funny most of the time. So is there a ghost in my house? Probably not. But it's as good of an explanation as any other.
For mrs follow me on Twitter at @CN_ChrisP. May the force be with you.
cpinkard@blythevillecourier.com