I may be no big fan of Pooh himself, but I do love his entourage, and I am saddened to hear that the two men behind Tigger and Piglet have passed away over the weekend. So let us step away from reality, away from retiring Supreme Court justices, away from Uranium processing plants out west, and think about this cartoon.

Specifically, Poohsticks.

I suppose I should write about Heffalumps, and Tigger getting stuck in a tree, stories that probably better embody the best qualities of these two characters. Yet Poohsticks is what comes to mind when I think of Christopher Robin and company. There is something innately satisfying about the game that I find myself scanning for sticks whenever I cross an appropriate bridge.

For those of you who have never played Poohsticks, the game is pretty easy. First you find a bridge and then everyone chooses a stick. Everyone drops their sticks on the up-river side of the bridge and jaunts over to the other side. The first stick that appears downstream wins. Repeat as needed.

I've played this game in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Glasgow, New York and elsewhere. It's great fun, even for people with a tigger-like disposition. Who needs all this Pooh paraphernalia when you can do just as well with a stick, a bridge and some water?

In memory of the voices behind of the fearful pig and the over-stepping cat, I think that it's time to play some Poohsticks.