The names Bert and Ernie were familiar to me as two of the beloved Muppets from Sesame Street, but nothing more.

There is a sweet little shop in my neighborhood that sells plants and floral decorations named, Zuzu’s Petals. A charming name for a charming store, but again I thought little of it.

And then I watched for the first time in decades, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a classic film deserving of unbridled praise.
Who are George Bailey’s best friends? Bert and Ernie. Yes, perhaps a coincidence but it is much more fun to imagine that the Muppets’ names are an intentional homage.

And then during the film, I heard, “Zuzu’s petals.”

The petals belong to Zuzu Bailey, George’s youngest daughter. She has  brought a flower home from school and discovers a few petals have fallen off.  George pretends to reattach them but secretly slips them into his pocket rejoicing later on “Zuzu’s petals…Zuzu….there they are!” (Telling anymore of the story would be unfair.)

But now the names Bert, Ernie and Zuzu ring with new resonance and a touch of joy.