Paddy, 13, Cover Boy
Paddy Jacobs-Quesenberry, 13, passed away on Thursday, May 31, 2012 from complications of diabetes. Born on St. Patrick’s Day 1999, he spent his career working as a cover model for A&M Books of Rehoboth. His photograph appeared on the covers of As I Lay Frying—a Rehoboth Beach Memoir, Fried & True—Tales from Rehoboth Beach, and For Frying Out Loud—Rehoboth Beach Diaries all by Rehoboth Beach writer Fay Jacobs.
Paddy is survived by his family, including Fay and Bonnie, his older brother Moxie, Aunt Gwen and 39 feline cousins, and best friends Mitzi Hooker, Baron Lodovici, and Chanel Sneider-Cohen.
• • •
When I wrote my column about Schnauzerhaven Assisted Living a month ago, I had no idea this news would follow so soon. As I have many Letters readers who didn’t get this news personally, I feel a responsibility to let you know, in this space, of Paddy’s passing.
Also, it’s a chance to reiterate my view of story-telling. As I have said before, I inherited a gift from my father. It was his vision that no event is so terrible if you can tell a funny story about it. In fact, laughter is the very best medicine.
So I have to relate that following our terrible trip to the vet on that sad Thursday night, Bonnie and I were a mess. But she had a previously planned trip out of town and I told her to go. I assured her Moxie and I would be fine.
As I sat in my living room on Friday, Moxie could not settle down. He went from room to room in the house, looking for Paddy. While it was breaking my heart, I realized he hadn’t seen Bonnie since Thursday night either. My God, he probably thinks I killed them both.
Between laughing and crying, I got through the night.
Bonnie’s back now, and we’re adjusting. Moxie is feeling a bit more secure and we’ve been taking him to friends’ homes for play dates. Paddy lives on, his face gracing the covers of thousands of books at Proud, Browseabout, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, etc., but mostly in great big stacks in my garage. In his memory, buy a book…see, I can shamelessly turn everything into a marketing opportunity.
As for his super model career, photographer Murray Archibald always had less trouble posing Paddy than me. Unlike me, Paddy never whined that he’d rather the photos didn’t highlight his thighs, never squinted unattractively into the camera and didn’t come up with a dozen shots with his eyes closed. And goodness knows, he was not picky about which photos would make good cover shots.
So the smiles continue. Bonnie and I giggle that our kitchen floor no longer looks like Lake Superior. Paddy, it can now be told, had a drinking problem. He couldn’t take a sip of water without sticking his entire beard in the bowl, then dripping all over the floor. Then wiping his disgusting beard on the sofa. We smile, remember, and feel hopeful for the longevity of our new couch.
Finally, this column would not be complete without a nod to the incredible compassion and wonderful care of Dr. Sarah Curtis at Rehoboth Animal Hospital. The whole office is amazingly friendly and efficient. Cannot recommend them enough.
Oh, and I know Paddy would want me to say, “In lieu of flowers, donations to Safe Haven, please.” Just kidding. No response required. But we do have to go on kidding. It is the best medicine of all.
Fay Jacobs is the author of As I Lay Frying—a Rehoboth Beach Memoir; Fried & True—Tales from Rehoboth Beach; and For Frying Out Loud—Rehoboth Beach Diaries. Email Fay Jacobs