Our precious friend, Hugh Kearnley of Glasgow, Scotland, died suddenly of a heart attack on Saturday at the tender age of 56. It was a sad day for DH and me.

I had wrtten about my special feelings for Hughie here in “Love on ADT: My Hughie And Me,” and “The Kiss of Life.” I chose Hughie as a subject because he felt so deeply and expressed himself so eloquently.

To me, Hugh Kearnley was the Poet Laureate of the online prostate cancer community. I will talk about that more in a special tribute I am working on. In the meantime, I would like to honor my friend by posting something here which I circulated in the PC groups:

“Dear Sweet Hughie,

Now it’s time for me to have the “weepies”. I can’t express how much I loved you, my friend. I will make you immortal by writing about you in my own little way. And I will quote the beautiful prose-poetry you have already written about the family you love so much.

It seems like just yesterday that I wrote you a “love letter” here on the occasion of your birthday. Some people may think you have died, dearest Hughie, but I regard your passing as a rebirth. So I just wanted to wish you: ‘Co Latha Breith, Sona Dhibui.’

Happy Birthday again, my bonny laddie.

And you may rest assured for eternity knowing that we will not forget you. That’s why I included this:

“As a Perfume”

As a perfume doth remain
In the folds where it hath lain,
So the thought of you, remaining
Deeply folded in my brain,
Will not leave me: all things leave me:
You remain.

Other thoughts may come and go,
Other moments I may know
That shall waft me, in their going,
As a breath blown to and fro,
Fragrant memories: fragrant memories
Come and go.

Only thoughts of you remain
In my heart where they have lain,
Perfumed thoughts of you, remaining,
A hid sweetness, in my brain.
Others leave me: all things leave me:
You remain.”

–Arthur Symons.

Farewell, my lovely. Am expecting a letter from you soon with your new addy.

Leah and Ted