As a Los Angeles wedding officiant I get to meet people from all over the world on one of the happiest days of their life. Last weekend I had the pleasure to officiate an intimate private wedding for a young British couple who decided to elope while they were visiting Los Angeles. At the conclusion of their wedding ceremony they asked me to read a passage from “The House at Pooh Corner” by A.A. Milne.
When I saw the source of the reading I was originally ambivalent. You see, growing up with the name “Christopher Robinson” resulted in far too many Winnie the Pooh jokes. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me “Where’s Winnie the Pooh?” I’d drive a nicer car. It didn’t matter that Winnie the Pooh’s friend was named “Christopher Robin” and not “Robinson.”
Despite my predisposition, when I read the passage I was very charmed by it. It beautifully expresses a very innocent and genuine definition of love.
“Pooh” whispered Piglet.
“Yes, Piglet” replied Pooh.
“Nothing,” answered Piglet, “I just wanted to be sure of you. If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you. It’s so much more friendly with two. Pooh, promise me you won’t forget about me, ever. Not even when I am a hundred.”
Pooh thought for a little. “How old shall I be then?”
“Ninety-nine.”
Pooh nodded. “I promise,” he said. “Some people care too much, I think it’s called love.”
As a wedding officiant I am constantly surprised at how honest and creative a bride and groom can be on their wedding day. Sometimes their personal vows will be very touching or the reading of a passage by a friend or a family member leaves everyone wiping their eyes. But I am both humbled and fortunate to have been moved by a passage from my old nemesis, Winnie the Pooh.
