Posting content from the internet is hardly posting, I know. But I was thinking about Hugh yesterday, and this video I made five years ago (below), and somehow it led me to this one (above). Hugh would never have let me wrap him like this!

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Beano looks like he’s hatching a plot to take over the world.

Look familiar?

Same computer, different tuxedo cats, different locations for the House of Fielding.

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This photo of Hugh is nearly three years old and the old tom’s been gone a year a half now, but his popularity lives on — in photos and videoclips. This picture of Hugh just got its 50th fave, and has now been viewed 2,900 times on Flickr. He’s the Elvis of the Cat World, catnipping his way into immortality.

An urn with some of Hugh’s ashes is sitting on a shelf in my bedroom, safely near the wall where Xena can’t knock it over in her wanderings. (The rest were scattered in Sep ’06 where David’s lie, at Rhinebeck, NY.)

Sometimes Beano has a look that reminds me of Hugh since he’s a tuxedo cat, too, but their markings are quite different and Hugh was twice the size of Beano and lost part of one ear (battle scar? nah, infection). Their personalities are also rather dissimilar, but both very sweet and affectionate.

Left: Beano, Right: Hugh

I’m still feeling a profound sadness over how Beano and Xena came into my life, but now that they’re here I’d say their presence (and the fact that they’re a furry connection to Arliin) has warmed up the House of Fielding, a housewarming not felt since the days of Mister Hugh.

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As of next week this videoclip will be two years old (it’s the last video I have with David on it, as well), but I still get comments on it from people who watch it and say how much they like the video and love Hugh (click on the video to see the comments). What a character Hugh was; a kitty with a major personality. I miss him very much. Being able to view these videos whenever I want and share them with other people long after Hugh’s passing keeps a bit of him alive for me. This video was a favourite of David’s, too, it made him laugh hysterically, even through painful treatment.

We picked this song because it was Judy’s favourite — Judy was David’s work colleague for eight years. She spoke at David’s memorial and, through tears, told the story of how she mentioned it was her favourite song and David found a copy of it for her. I think it’s a Frank Sinatra number, but this version is by Dean Martin.

“Dean Martin was drunk when he sang this,” David would say.

I love Hugh’s last little paw-shake near the end of the clip when he goes back in the house.

It’s a marshmallow world in the winter
When the snow comes to cover the ground
It’s the time for play, it’s a whipped cream day
I wait for it the whole year round.

Those are marshmallow clouds being friendly
In the arms of the evergreen trees
And the sun is red like a pumpkin head
It’s shining so your nose won’t freeze.

The world is your snowball, see how it grows
Thats how it goes whenever it snows
The world is your snowball just for a song
Get out and roll it along

It’s a yum-yummy world made for sweethearts
Take a walk with your favorite girl
It’s a sugar date, what if spring is late
In winter it’s a marshmallow world.

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February 19, 2005

David put the five frames together and uploaded this into his photostream, but it’s one of my favourite pictures so I’ve uploaded it into mine as well.

I fell asleep on the couch after a flying trip; our old tomcat Hugh napped with me. Gail’s flash, in the dark, didn’t wake us up.

It was right after our trip to the Corning Museum of Glass.

Dave’s Logbook: Trip to Corning – February 20, 2005

Best viewed large or original size.

I got a lot of sleep last night, which I really needed (but with superfluous dreaming — although, isn’t all dreaming superfluous?). It made me think of this picture. Here’s my original post of this photo, with a comment from David below it.

Technorati tags: sleep, nap, frames

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by Michael, age 6

Michael’s in first grade, and from all accounts he’s doing very well in school and is happy to spend time with other boys his age. He loves his sisters, but he’s very outnumbered.

by Maddy, age 5

Maddy just started kindergarten, and she’s very pleased to join her older brother and sister in school.

See the whole Artwork by the MJEs set here.

In August, when Berit, Jez, and Justine were visiting from Germany, Justine asked me, “Why did Hugh die?”

Can you imagine a tougher question? How do you explain these things to a three-year old?

I couldn’t say it was because he was old, because “old” is such a broad descriptor. Hugh was 15, and indoor cats often live longer than that. People can be “old” for a long time before they pass on.

I couldn’t say it was because Hugh was sick, because people and animals get sick all the time and don’t necessarily die. Her 15-year old greyhound, Terry, was at the vet when they were here. Sick is also one of those broad terms that can make kids needlessly alarmed if you link it with death.

Finally, I gave up. I didn’t have a reasonable answer for her. “Hugh had a good life,” I said eventually, and I showed Justine the videoclip of Hugh on catnip instead.

Technorati tags: kids, artwork, drawings, pet

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June 24, 2005
Photo credit: David

David’s feet and Hugh on the prowl in the front yard. It’s out of focus, but I like the feeling of the picture. I’ve never seen this photo before — I was in Vancouver waiting for my visa and David and Hugh were waiting for me at home. David would phone me every day and tell me about Hugh’s (mis)adventures, including catching one mouse, the second of his career!

David archived some CDs from his home computer about a month before he died, and I haven’t looked at them until today. It’s making me rather emotional to see the photos that hadn’t been uploaded.

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April 29, 2005
House of Fielding
Scranton, Pennsylvania

David carving our initials into the magnolia tree beside our house.

October 1, 2006
I made this videoclip to mark what would’ve been our first anniversary. A smaller, slightly different version can be found here on Blip.TV.

Music: “Fly Me to the Moon” – Frank Sinatra
Track #13 on David’s memorial CD. (My goal is to make videoclips using all 14 tracks. This is the fifth one so far.)

I did go to Rhinebeck today, and Wednesday, Sep 20. Hugh’s ashes were scattered from the museum biplane yesterday (Saturday). More on this after I return to Toronto.

Hugh’s YouTube video playlist:

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March 2, 2005

Some shots I found in my collection, from our house in Scranton. What a personality.

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Dear David,

In Month Eight I went to the place where I scattered your ashes. I arrived late in the afternoon on a weekday so I could be alone. I needed to sit and listen: to the hum of the insects, to the faint rustling of trees, the echo of nearly 50 years of antique airplanes rumbling along the grassy knoll. Somewhere amidst the echoes was the sound of your voice, probably telling a story to a Civil Air Patrol cadet or passing along a nugget of aviation history. As I sat on the old wooden planks propped by concrete blocks that serve as benches for the airshows, I imagined the Aerodrome coming to life in sepia with scratchy tunes from an old Victrola. It is only through my imagination that I can see you here, but I know it’s where I can find you.

After Hugh died, I wanted to give up and leave Toronto. Losing Mister Hugh so soon after losing you was like a swift kick in the solar plexus when I was already down on the mat. Until now, I haven’t picked up his ashes from the vet clinic because I’m not ready yet. I was the one who found him, and that image is burned deep into my consciousness. I tried my best to take care of him, but his body gave out. This feeling of helplessness is crippling and all too familiar; I’d already gone through it with you. I did everything I could, but it wasn’t enough.

I had to remind myself why I chose to live here, I drove south. I saw Helma, I saw the plane, I even saw the space shuttle. I tried to feel better, because I couldn’t feel any worse. I searched for a salve for my pain, and I knew where I could find it and that’s where I went.

I will return to you, and Rhinebeck, next month with Hugh. I want to make sure you’re together, as you always were, and be with you both for a while.

Love always,
The Remaining Member of the House of Fielding

The House of Fielding in Scranton, April 2005.

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