Stanley Boardwalk
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Subj:
It's about time you get out!
From: diane@vancouver.ca
to: barclay1720@aol.com
Sat., 2013 July 04 8:12 PM
(Pacific Daylight Saving Time)
Hi Kato,
Thanks for the following interesting article.
■"Manwatching"
Great story about the Central VPL (Vancouver Public Library) and the old chap.
Of course, you DO look like a librarian.
You've spent so much time in the library that it comes naturally.
I'm surprised more folks don't question you.
It's funny about Sylvie as well.
Yes, I guess she overheard us talking.
You're right in that I at heart really DO like people and love to help out where I can.
It's just part of my nature so not a difficulty.
We're all different, and we all have different gifts, isn't it true?
Such lovely weather these days, isn't it great?
I went for a stroll around Lost Lagoon after supper and ended up on Cathedral Trail.
You must check it out.
Just over the Lost Lagoon bridge between the Lagoon and Second Beach, the park has constructed a lovely cedar boardwalk.
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It looks so new that it still SMELLS deliciously of cedar and the construction is solid and beautiful.
It is meant to protect the environment but delightful to stroll over.
You must do so whenever you're in the area.
... hope you're enjoying this weather.
Let me know if you get to see the new boardwalk, okay?
How's it going with the love life?
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Ciao, Diane ~
Subj:
Yes, yes, yes... I'm going out!
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From: barclay1720@aol.com
to: diane@vancouver.ca
Thurs., June 20, 2013 3:55 P.M.
(Pacific Daylight Saving Time)
Hi Diane,
What a lovely and gorgeous day we have today.
Are you enjoying the sunshine?
I hope you ARE.
Probably, you're jogging around the seawall.
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I'm at the Main Branch now.
I think I'll go to see the new boardwalk this late afternoon once I'm done with my article.
Just before the library gets closed, I'll get out and drop in at the IGA supermarket near the library to buy a bunch of bananas for my supper.
Then, I'll walk to the Rose Garden in Stanley Park.
Probably I'll reach the Garden by 6:30 p.m.
Then I'll take a break and eat my bananas.
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If you've got free time this evening, I'd like to see you at the Rose Garden.
...hope this mail will reach you in time.
Your smiling Bohemian, Kato
with a lot of love
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Subj:
I miss the rendez-vous!
From: diane@vancouver.ca
to: barclay1720@aol.com
Sun., 2013 July 14 10:30 PM
(Pacific Daylight Saving Time)
Hi Kato,
I've just received your mail now, which is too late for me.
It is 10:30 p.m. on Sunday evening.
I certainly miss the rendez-vous on the boardwalk.
I've had a wonderfully exciting and varied weekend, though.
so I can't complain.
...hope you got to see the new cedar boardwalk, kiddo.
Sleep tight.
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Luv, Diane ~
So, Diane, you were quite busy hopping around a number of parties over the last weekend, eh?
Well ... what else can I do? You see, Kato, I at heart really DO like people and love to go out with people. Furthermore, I'd like to help out where I can.
So, Diane, you go to parties and help your friends have a lot of fun, eh?
Kato, you're so sarcastic. I'm not particularly preoccupied with wild parties. To tell you the truth, I embodied a profoundly personal and deeply sincere commitment to my spiritual beliefs.
Oh ...? You sound quite serious, eh?
I taught Sunday School and undertook duties to support my Anglican Church and tried to help others in whatever way I could.
I know ... I know ...
Do you really know that, Kato?
Well ... at least I can see that you're always willing and happy to help others in whatever way you could.
I'm glad to hear that. By the way, Kato, how did you enjoy the boardwalk?
Just before the closing time, I checked the news on the newly constructed boardwalk in the library.
Did you find any?
Yes, I did. I looked into the following CBC news clip.
Check out Stanley Park's first boardwalk
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I was quite excited because the boardwalk reminded me of Oze Marshland in Japan.
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Oze Marshland in Nikko
Wow! What a beautiful view! Have you been over there, Kato?
Yes, of course, I have. That's the reason I got so excited about the new boardwalk in Stanley Park. Suddenly, the old memory about the trip to Oze Marshland came into my mind.
So, naturally, you imagined the same kind of scenery, didn't you?
Yes, I did. I thought that it would be quite romantic if I strolled with you on the boardwalk in Oze Marshland. Anyway, I went to the rose garden in Stanley Park.
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I walked from West End Community Center along the green route to the Rose Garden.
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Rose Garden at Stanley Park
So, while you were waiting for me, you ate a bunch of bananas like a chimpanzee, didn't you?
Yes, that's right. Greatly expecting a romantic rendez-vous, I enjoyed eating my banana supper like a starry-eyed amorous chimp.
I'm really sorry, Kato. If I'd known it well in advance, I could've probably managed to meet you over there.
Anyway, I waited for an extra hour or so, but you didn't show up. That was the first letdown.
Oh ...? What was the second letdown?
Well ... I went over to the stone bridge, then to the new boardwalk. Oh, yes... as you wrote, it still smelled deliciously of cedar. The boardwalk was stoutly built. I was expecting some romantic white flowers.
Lysichiton
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It is a genus in the family Araceae.
These plants are known commonly as skunk cabbage or less often as swamp lantern.
The spelling Lysichitum is also found.
The genus has two species, one found in north-east Asia, the other in north-west America.
Lysichiton has flowers which are typical of those of the family to which it belongs (the arum family or Araceae).
The individual flowers are small and are tightly packed on a fleshy stem called a spadix which is surrounded by a white or yellow but otherwise leaf-like bract called a spathe.
The spathe is hooded or boat-shaped at the top.
Lysichiton has flowers with both male and female parts present (bisexual), unlike many other aroids.
After fertilization, the green fruits become embedded in the spadix; each fruit usually has two seeds but may have up to four.
Several large leaves appear either just before flowering or soon afterwards; each has a short stalk (petiole).
Plants die down to a vertical rhizome in winter.
SOURCE: "Lysichiton"
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
To my disappointment, I couldn't find any flowers of lysichiton as I walked along the boradwalk. This was my second letdown. Then came the third letdown.
What was it?
To my sad surprise, the boardwalk ended after I walked for about five minutes.
Yes, yes, yes... the boardwalk is a rather short path. So, Kato, you were quite disappointed, weren't you?
Yes, that's true. I was not satisfied with the short boardwalk, but at least it reminded me of my nostalgic memory and melody.
I can see your nostalgic memory about the trip to Oze Marshland, but what is your nostalgic melody?
Listen to this:
Oze Marshland with Music
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Did you hear a lovely melody?
Yes, I did. It's nice and sweet, isn't it? What is it about?
Here are lyrics for you.
Summer Memories
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I recall as summer comes
Oze Marshland in the far away
Floating in the mist
Gentle silhouette along the boardwalk
Flowers of lysichiton in bloom
Dreaming by the water
Like rhododendron in the twilight
Oh, Oze Marshland in the far away
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I recall as summer comes
My trip in Oze Marshland
Among white flowers
Floating islands
Sweet sweet flowers of lysichiton
Dreaming in full bloom by the water
Nostalgic Oze in my eyes
Oh, Oze Marshland in the far away
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(translated by Kato)
夏の思い出
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作詞：江間 章子
作曲：中田喜直
夏が来れば 思い出す
はるかな尾瀬 とおい空
きりの中に 浮びくる
やさしい影 野の小路
みず芭蕉の花が 咲いている
夢見て咲いている 水のほとり
しゃくなげ色にたそがれる
はるかな尾瀬 とおい空
夏が来れば 思い出す
はるかな尾瀬 野の旅よ
花の中に そよそよと
ゆれゆれる 浮き島よ
みず芭蕉の花が 匂っている
夢見て匂っている 水のほとり
まなこつぶれば なつかしい
Oh, Kato, I wish I could stroll with you on the boardwalk in Oze Marshland
Yes, yes, yes ... some day, some day ...
【Himiko's Monologue】
What beautiful flowers they are!
I like "mizu-bashō" or flowers of lysichiton.
In English, it is usually called "White Skunk Cabbage."
I hate this English name!
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I just don't understand how come any man could come up with "Skunk" to call this beautiful flower.
As you know, a skunk produces the most disgusting and obnoxious fart.
In any case, I hope Kato will write another interesting article soon.
So please come back to see me.
Have a nice day!
Bye bye ...
If you've got some time,
Please read one of the following articles:
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■"First Love"
■"Fright on Flight"
■"Boy's Movie"
■"From Summer to Eternity"
■"Sōseki & Glenn Gould"
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■"In Search of Your Footprint"
■"Little Night Music"
■"Merry X'mas"
■"Happy New Year!"
■"Long live Diane!"
■"Mona Lisa"
■"Flu Shot"
■"Selfish TD Bank"
■"Talk with Mozart"
Hi, I'm June Adams.
Oze Marshland (尾瀬ヶ原) is a high altitude marshland in the Oze National Park, Japan.
Approximately 8km² in size, the marshland is well known for the various species of plants, including the "mizu-bashō" (White Skunk Cabbage), "Nikkō-kisuge" (yellow alpine lilies) and "Watasuge" (Eriophorum vaginatum).
The marshland is a popular hiking destination.
When you visit Japan, please drop in at Oze Marshland.
