Yester-years
For my birthday, I received an iPod Touch.
And on this iPod, there was an app that was available for free - iBooks.
And with this free app, it came with a complete book (also for free) - Winnie-the-Pooh.
Every once in a while, I've been reading this to Del - for both of our enjoyments. And as I'm reading, very fond memories of the first times that I heard and read these stories, and watching the (original) animated movies, come flooding back like a tidal wave.
I know that we talk about the slate of movies that have been coming out of late, that have been taken from our childhood, and we like to say that "the are killing my childhood" - I know. I say it quite often.
But I can still remember one day in 1996, when there was, I believe the first time, that I actually _felt_ something inside me... change. When Christopher Robin passed away (yes, I know that he never took to being the child in the story, and it put him at odds with his father AA Milne).
I still love the original Pooh stories. And I'll always have a weakness for that silly old bear.
Adam and Derek - I think I know what you might be getting for your next birthday. ;-)
---
Then, suddenly again, Christopher Robin, who was Still looking at the world with his chin in his hands, called out "Pooh!"
"Yes?" said Pooh.
"When I'm--when-- Pooh!"
"Yes, Christopher Robin?"
"I'm not going to do Nothing any more."
"Never again?"
"Well, not so much. They don't let you."
Pooh waited for him to go on, but he was silent again.
"Yes, Christopher Robin?" said Pooh helpfully.
"Pooh, when I'm--you know--when I'm not doing Nothing, will you come up here sometimes?"
"Just Me?"
"Yes, Pooh."
"Will you be here too?"
"Yes, Pooh, I will be really. I promise I will be, Pooh."
"That's good," said Pooh.
"Pooh, promise you won't forget about me, ever. Not even when I'm a hundred."
Pooh thought for a little.
"How old shall I be then?"
"Ninety-nine."
Pooh nodded.
"I promise," he said.
Still with his eyes on the world Christopher Robin put out a hand and felt for Pooh's paw.
"Pooh," said Christopher Robin earnestly, "if I--if I'm not quite" he stopped and tried again. "-- Pooh, whatever happens, you will understand, won't you?"
"Understand what?"
"Oh, nothing." He laughed and jumped to his feet. "Come on!"
"Where?" said Pooh.
"Anywhere," said Christopher Robin.
So they went off together. But 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.
And on this iPod, there was an app that was available for free - iBooks.
And with this free app, it came with a complete book (also for free) - Winnie-the-Pooh.
Every once in a while, I've been reading this to Del - for both of our enjoyments. And as I'm reading, very fond memories of the first times that I heard and read these stories, and watching the (original) animated movies, come flooding back like a tidal wave.
I know that we talk about the slate of movies that have been coming out of late, that have been taken from our childhood, and we like to say that "the are killing my childhood" - I know. I say it quite often.
But I can still remember one day in 1996, when there was, I believe the first time, that I actually _felt_ something inside me... change. When Christopher Robin passed away (yes, I know that he never took to being the child in the story, and it put him at odds with his father AA Milne).
I still love the original Pooh stories. And I'll always have a weakness for that silly old bear.
Adam and Derek - I think I know what you might be getting for your next birthday. ;-)
---
Then, suddenly again, Christopher Robin, who was Still looking at the world with his chin in his hands, called out "Pooh!"
"Yes?" said Pooh.
"When I'm--when-- Pooh!"
"Yes, Christopher Robin?"
"I'm not going to do Nothing any more."
"Never again?"
"Well, not so much. They don't let you."
Pooh waited for him to go on, but he was silent again.
"Yes, Christopher Robin?" said Pooh helpfully.
"Pooh, when I'm--you know--when I'm not doing Nothing, will you come up here sometimes?"
"Just Me?"
"Yes, Pooh."
"Will you be here too?"
"Yes, Pooh, I will be really. I promise I will be, Pooh."
"That's good," said Pooh.
"Pooh, promise you won't forget about me, ever. Not even when I'm a hundred."
Pooh thought for a little.
"How old shall I be then?"
"Ninety-nine."
Pooh nodded.
"I promise," he said.
Still with his eyes on the world Christopher Robin put out a hand and felt for Pooh's paw.
"Pooh," said Christopher Robin earnestly, "if I--if I'm not quite" he stopped and tried again. "-- Pooh, whatever happens, you will understand, won't you?"
"Understand what?"
"Oh, nothing." He laughed and jumped to his feet. "Come on!"
"Where?" said Pooh.
"Anywhere," said Christopher Robin.
So they went off together. But 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.