In which I explore some of the words and phrases that I have adopted from works of literature

Every so often I have come across a word that is so perfect that, without my conscious knowledge, it becomes a part of my vernacular. Long ago and far away I was given a copy of the book Eloise, and it became a firm and fast friend. In the story the main character, Eloise, lives in the Plaza Hotel in New York City with Skipperdee her pet turtle, Winnie her pet pug, and Nanny who is her nanny. Nanny is a very proper Englishwoman who naturally speaks with a very proper English accent. When she pronounces rather, it comes out as rawther. To my four-year old ears this word was hilarious, and it stuck.  

   Rawther is not the only word or phrase that I have adopted. Only slightly less long ago and still far away I was introduced to Winnie the Pooh and his stories. In the story “In which Christopher Robin leads an expotition to the North Pole,” Pooh goes to visit his friend Christopher Robin, who is trying to get one of his wellington boots on. Pooh, being a sweet bear and a good friend, sits down and pushes against Christopher’s back to help the boy get his recalcitrant boot onto his foot. Christopher then announces that he has a plan:

"We are all going on an Expedition," said Christopher Robin, as he got up and brushed himself. "Thank you, Pooh."

"Going on an Expotition?" said Pooh eagerly. "I don't think I've ever been on one of those. Where are we going to on this Expotition?"

"Expedition, silly old Bear. It's got an 'x' in it."

"Oh!" said Pooh. "I know." But he didn't really.

Expotition joined rawther and my life has been better for it ever since

 

Not quite so long ago and far less far away my dear husband had to have hand surgery. While he was recovering I distracted him by reading him the Winnie the Pooh stories. The poor man had not heard them or read them and I had no choice but to remedy the situation. In the story In which Eeyore loses a tail and Pooh Finds one, Winnie the Pooh visits Eeyore only to discover that his normally gloomy friend it even gloomier than usual. It would appear that Eeyore has lost his tail. Pooh, being a good bear and a loving friend, announces that “I, Winnie-the-Pooh will find your tail for you.” Pooh knows full well that he is a Bear of Very Little Brain and so he goes to visit Owl because “if anyone knows anything…it’s Owl who knows something about something.” Pooh explains that he is needs to find Eeyore’s missing tail, and he would like Owl to tell him what to do. This is the conversation that takes place in Owl’s cozy tree home:

“Well,” said Owl, the customary procedure in such cases is as follows.” 

“What does Crustimoney Proseedcake mean?” said Pooh. “For I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words Bother me.”

And this, my dear friends, is how crustimoney proseedcake became a part of our family vernacular. Brian is very partial to using it.

   Rawther, expotition, and crustimoney proseedcake may sound silly to you, but silliness is a necessity in this life. As the wonderful actor and writer Michael Palin once said: 

“[Silliness is] very, very, important. Very important. The other side of it is taking yourself terribly seriously. Which I think occasionally, you know, if you're a brain surgeon, I wouldn't want him to be silly when he's doing the operation. But afterwards, if he wants to go laugh around that's fine. There's got to be a silly side to all of it.”

I think Winnie the Pooh would completely understand, and appreciate, this deliciously Poohish comment.

Artwork:

-Eloise and Nanny from the book Eloise written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight

-Pooh and friends on an Expotion from the book Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne and illustrated by E.H. Shepard

- Owl and Pooh conferring about Eeyore's lost tail from the book Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne and illustrated by E.H. Shepard