Some time ago, Sharon and I went to New York with two of our friends, Steve & Patti Hale. We did all the Manhattan stuff but on one day, it became apparent that we all wanted to “do our own thing” and so we split up for a morning, with plans to reunite for lunch.
For me, the Mission was quite clear. This was one of the reasons I wanted to come to New York. I needed to pay homage.
In 1921, a teddy bear from Harrod's in London was given to Christopher Robin Milne on his first birthday. He was known as Edward Bear. Later to be known as Winnie the Pooh, the world’s most famous bear gave rise to some of the most magical children’s’ stories ever written even though Shepard’s drawings of Pooh were not inspired by Pooh but by Growler, the bear belonging to the artist's son.
In the 1940s, Pooh’s author, A.A. Milne “donated” Pooh and his friends (Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga and Tigger) to the American publisher, E.P. Dutton. They were subsequently passed on to the New York Public Library in 1988.
And there they were. Tucked away on the third floor, in an unassuming glass cage. But surely …. wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest a little boy and his Bear will always be playing. The Library was hardly the spiritual resting place that Pooh deserves. They have recently moved from there to the History and Social Science Library and one can only hope that their new home is more appropriate.
Pooh was the witty one and clearly did have a brain. I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words bother me. It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?”
Piglet is always coming up with excuses for being a total wuss. It is awfully hard to be b-b-brave, when you're only a Very Small Animal.
Eeyore was an intellectual snob as well as being a miserable so-and-so. To the uneducated, an A is just three sticks.
Tigger just enjoyed himself. Piglet was still a little anxious about Tigger, who was a very Bouncy Animal, with a way of saying How-do-you-do, which always left your ears full of sand, even after Kanga had said "Gently, Tigger dear," and had helped you up again.
Kanga was the stereotypical mother and interestingly, was the only female character in all the books that A.A. Milne ever wrote.
And so the trip to New York was complete.
Sharon’s homage was to a stringed instrument shop on Staten Island …. and, it might be added, I went with her. Perhaps to ensure that her credit card stayed firmly in her purse. But that’s another story.
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