Natalie

nn2102 Earl Plato

I received January 4th 2008 a belated Christmas card from Natalie Plato nowliving in Iqualit, NU. Below is a letter she wrote me a few Christmases ago.
“Dear Earl: We are in Tasmania.” That’s the greeting from my cousin Sam’s daughter, Canadian scientist, Natalie Plato, in a recent note. Do you know where Tasmania is? That’s right - south of Australia. Lucky Natalie is at a scientific conference. What a job!
Natalie says that she had a few days to tour the island and see the sights. She hiked Cradle Mountain National Park. She wrote, “Spectacular!!” Remember Tasmania is closer to the South pole than Australia. It’s more temperate and yes, some of the mountains have snow. As we here in Canada approach summer, the residents of Tasmania approach winter. Natalie’s picture of a Bennett’s Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) is made in a snowy setting. This rather large wallaby is mainly nocturnal. Why? She doesn’t say. However, this species is especially tame in the National Parks of Tasmania.
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What a place. What a view! The second floor dining room of the new Marriott Hotel in the Falls is what I am talking about.
What a meal! This was first class in all aspects - service and, food for Elaine and me. What were we doing here? I met former student, Jill Brewster, and we were welcomed warmly by Kentucky Colonels Bosko Masanovich and Nick Ross. Guess what? I was to be guest speaker! I’m a writer not an orator. As Elaine said later, “You should have just talked not read some of your articles.” However, no one booed out loud. If ever I speak again - no notes just stories of nature.
I sat next to honorary Colonel Alice Tucker, a resident of Kentucky. She had been coming to the Falls and to the Ontario Chapter of Kentucky Colonels at least thirty five years. We talked about Kentucky and as a aturalist/historian/geographer I inquired from the stately lady. She had answers for everything. Alice followed me and she had them laughing with some racy jokes. Quite a woman. She was proud of the organization and its altruistic programs. They help a lot of people. Colonel Nick Ross told us, “We give away at the end of our year all moneys collected and then we start again.”
During my talk I mentioned a touchy subject - Marcy Woods, as I read one of the articles. Some forty of my articles over the years mention the great woods. Will I ever be able to write about them again?
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New Hamburg? That’s right just outside Kitchener-Waterloo.
Elaine and I took our three Plato boys, one grandson to soccer referee school and the other two to the huge Community swimming pool at New Hamburg. Not bad spending three hours in a beautiful little village on a sunny Saturday waiting. Know me? Elaine stayed with two of the boys and, about to be thirteen year old, Nathan went with me across the road from the pool. Memories. Yes, this was the Wilmot Arboretum started in 1968 by the Ministry of Natural Resources. A huge sign showed the location and name of each species. Gingko, yes. Sycamore, yes. Now these were full-sized trees or close to it. I had been here in the eighties! Nathan said, “Grandpa, I know these woods. We ran Cross Country through here last year.”
Memories. Make them while you can.