I did not have an imaginary friend of my own, but my cousin Jaimie (who is now 40ish) had one when he was tiny. The family was sitting around after dinner and could hear Jaimie talking to someone as he took a bath.

"Who are you talking to in there?" someone called.

[pause]

"...Purnie."

"Purnie? Who's Purnie?"

[pause]

"...my friend."

I've never even met Jaimie, as he lives in the wilds of British Columbia, but when my dad told us this story years later, my brother and I immediately adopted Purnie. My brother still uses it as his screen name.

Also, we once attempted to have a family one-on-one street hockey championship. I got a bye, but my brother had to play Purnie in the first round.

I remember I had one one summer. His name was Nicholas. He dressed like Ernie in Sesame Street, but was about my height and coloring. (I was surrounded by darker-skinned cousins). I don't remember why he faded away.

As a solipist, all my friends are imaginary.

I have one now!

Yes. They were mostly X- Men.

Actually I grew up with a lot if animals, go I thinly they just got shunted unto the imaginary friend role. The cat and bird and gerbil and such had so many complex interpersonal dramas, according to little me.

Wow auto correct is fun.

I had an imaginary grizzly bear named Bosley. He lived in the basement and I made my mom feed him dog food. Like you do.

I had an imaginary enemy named Ferdie. He looked like the Count from Sesame Street, but was in black and white. He would sit on my window sill at night and laugh at me.

Super creepy.

Before I had a real dog, I had a plush doggie named Waldorf (after the salad made from apples, not the hotel the Muppet character was named for) who regularly came to life, talked with a funny voice, and took me on adventures inspired by popular cartoons: Tom Terrific (and Manfred the Wonder Dog), Crusader Rabbit (with Rags the Tiger), Beany & Cecil, Rocky & Bullwinkle and even Spunky & Tadpole, which as I grew up I realized was not only one of the worst-produced cartoons ever but also never quite explained what kind of animal "Tadpole" was - Dog? Monkey? Bear? I never revealed Waldorf's existence as anything but a stuffed animal to my parents, but when I was 8, I wrote a letter to the Hanna Barbera studios that tried to explain why he should be the Next Big Cartoon Star. They sent me back an autographed picture of Yogi Bear. My ability to pitch ideas to TV studios has NOT improved since. Nor has my ability to come up with truly original non-derivative ideas.

I had an imaginary pony named Trixie. Because my cousin had an actual pony named Trixie.

(He now has an actual Porche, but I'm quite happy with our VW Rabbit, Bunnicula.)

My imaginary friend was a lot like a combination of a Fairy Godmother and the Blessed Mother Mary. My own mom was pretty scary. Imaginary mom was compassionate and tender-hearted and gave me everything I ever wanted. I told her all my secrets. Truthfully, she's come around a couple times since I've been grown.

Well, I had Fred, but he was always more because I thought I was supposed to have an imaginary friend. I thought it was kind of fun, in an "I'm already too old for this" way. Fred often had some witty/humorous comment to make.

You can probably still see him, if you try. I think he makes a lot of comments under my handle over at MetaFilter, though I've never been able to catch him.

toastedbeagle, I want to hug your imaginary friend for taking such good care of you.

I did not, but my stuffed animals were real alive personalities. One was my boyfriend who I kissed at night.

Yes I Did . His Name Was Corey Anderson And I Haven't Heard From Him In Years

I had a whole family of witches that made nail polish for a living.

When my uncles was a kid, he had a family of penguins that lived in the sleeper sofa.

Thanks, E. I will accept the hug on her behalf. She says she loves hugs, especially when they come from bunnies.

When my uncles was a kid? Uncles? What's wrong with me?

I would like a family of penguins in my sleeper sofa. First I will have to get a sleeper sofa, but then I definitely want penguins in it.