Return to Pooh Corner

Song: Return to Pooh Corner
Artist: Kenny Loggins feat. Amy Grant

HAPPY WINNIE THE POOH DAY!!

Today is the birthday of Alan Alexander Milne (A.A. Milne) the man who introduced the world to the delightful stories of Winnie the Pooh! Inspired by his son, Christopher Robin, he wrote stories all about his son's adventures with his stuffed animals, mainly his teddy bear that was originally named Edward Bear. After a visit to the London Zoo, Christopher Robin was introduced to a sweet and gentle bear named Winnie. Winnie had been rescued by a Dr. Harry Colebourn as a cub and stayed with Dr. Colebourn and his troop as they prepared for WWII (Dr. Colebourn was a veterinarian who was enlisted in the army to care for the men's horses). Dr. Colebourn knew the war was too dangerous for Winnie so he took her to the London Zoo where she could be taken care of and would be kept safe as he prepared to leave for France.* A beautiful friendship blossomed between Christopher Robin and Winnie and was the inspiration for the name of that beloved bear we all know and love so much!

The true story of Winnie and Christopher Robin makes my heart burst! It's so sweet and innocent and amazing to me it almost seems like a story someone imagined up. But it's true. I grew up watching Winnie the Pooh and I have never stopped loving that "silly old bear." In fact, this month, since I knew "Winnie the Pooh Day" was coming up, I have been reading the original Winnie the Pooh books, something I have never done before. It has been such a joy and has filled my life with warmth during this cold January. The innocence and purity of these stories are heartwarming. I plan on finishing my books (currently working on Now We Are Six and then The House at Pooh Corner) and then I plan to watch the classic Disney film The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (along with many of the other movies that have spurred from that original one aka: Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin, The Tigger Movie, Piglet's BIG Movie and the 2011 Winnie the Pooh remake). Last year I watched the film Good-bye Christopher Robin which is the story of A.A. Milne and Christopher Robin (aka Billy Moon) and the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh. It's a really interesting film and I would recommend it, although it was a little sad :( I also plan on re-watching it this month (my original plan was to watch it today but we are celebrating my dad's birthday today so I will be busy with family festivities). Disney also released the film Christopher Robin which is a movie about a a grown up Christopher Robin who is taken back to his childhood days with the help of his furry friends long forgotten. It's pretty cheesy and not in any way shape or form true to the real story of Christopher Robin's grown up life, but it's cute. And has a much happier ending!

Now for the song. I have known it for years. What a sentimental and nostalgic song it is, especially now that I'm older; it makes me want to cry! I thought it was fitting to share today of all days. Take some time to go back to your childhood and reacquaint yourself with the Hundred Acre Woods and all of the delightful friends who live there. I believe it will do your soul good, the way it has mine :)

Christopher Robin and I walked along

Under branches lit up by the moon

Posing our questions to Owl and Eeyore

As our days disappeared all too soon

But I've wandered much further today than I should

And I can't seem to find my way back to the Wood

So help me if you can

I've got to get back

To the House at Pooh Corner by one

You'd be surprised

There's so much to be done

Count all the bees in the hive

Chase all the clouds from the sky

Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh

Winnie the Pooh doesn't know what to do

Got a honey jar stuck on his nose

He came to me asking help and advice

From here no one knows where he goes

So I sent him to ask of the Owl if he's there

How to loosen a jar from the nose of a bear

Help me if you can

I've got to get back

To the House at Pooh Corner by one

You'd be surprised

There's so much to be done

Count all the bees in the hive

Chase all the clouds from the sky

Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh

It's hard to explain how a few precious things

Seem to follow throughout all our lives

After all's said and done I was watching my son

Sleeping there with my bear by his side

So I tucked him in, I kissed him and as I was going

I swear that the old bear whispered "Boy welcome home"

Believe me if you can

I've finally come back

To the House at Pooh Corner by one

What do you know

There's so much to be done

Count all the bees in the hive

Chase all the clouds from the sky

Back to the days of Christopher Robin

Back to the ways of Christopher Robin

Back to the days of Pooh

Winnie the Pooh books/movies checklist:

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne

Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne

The House At Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne

Return to the Hundred Acre Wood by David Benedictus

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh and A Day For Eeyore 

Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin

The Tigger Movie

Piglet's BIG Movie 

Pooh's Heffalump Movie

Winnie the Pooh

Good-bye Christopher Robin 

Christopher Robin 

 *From the book Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick