Q: There seems to be a lot of ghosts on daytime these days. Is this something new? — Amin in Gathersberg, Md.

A: As Clark Kent's editor, Perry White, would say, "Great Caeser's ghost!"

The ghosts seem to have some of the best lines on daytime these days. While it may be overused today, ghosts have been around on daytime drama for a long time. The best example of ghosts and goblins was the cult soap of the late1960s and early '70s "Dark Shadows." The show was filled with folks coming back from the dead. Also in the 1970s, "All My Children" had an otherworldly storyline when Mary Martin (yes, that was the character's name), wife of Jeff Martin, was murdered in a robbery gone wrong. A tortured Jeff had many visits from Mary urging him to go on with his life. One of the jokes at the time was that Mary had a better wardrobe in heaven than in real life. Of course, when you think of it, that is what heaven should be like.

Today we have John's ghost on "Young and Restless," Alan and Emily of "General Hospital," several ghosts on "Passions," and "All My Children's" Dixie is paying an ethereal visit. Most of the ghosts are explained away by claiming to be the voice of conscious for several unconscious characters — sort of macabre Jiminy Crickets.

Q: If soaps are supposed to mirror real life, how come no one has a pet? Almost everyone I know has a pet.

— Charlene in Omaha, Neb.

A: Pets are not easy to work with on a set. Just ask Tony Geary (Luke, "General Hospital") about when Foster the dog came to live with Luke and Laura. "At the time, Foster had the best scenes," says Geary with a laugh. "It is not easy working with animals. They may look cute on the screen, but it takes a lot of work and patience."

"Santa Barbara" featured a pair of Dobermans. Having done a cameo on that soap with the dogs, I know what Geary means. The scene was stopped and started dozens of times. No, not because I flubbed my one line. The dogs' handler often stopped tape to make sure her wards were happy. No one seemed to care if the actors were happy.

"All My Children" had two famous pets. Bonkers the cat belonged to Daisy Courtland. The cat was owned by the show's then-producer, Jackie Babbin. When Bonkers died in real life, he did on the show, too. Then there was Timmy's dog, Harold. Harold was like Lassie — whenever anyone was in trouble, he would start whimpering. We knew Janice was pure evil when she tired to poison the lovable mutt.

Perhaps the strangest use of a pet was on "One Life to Live." Todd, then played by Roger Howarth, had a parrot. The parrot would perch on Todd's shoulder and would give Iago-like speeches.

I have a parrot. They do not want conversation; they want food.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

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