My Dearest Hershman,

It's mommy!  You were never Hershey Kiss to me.  Hershman was just one of your nicknames, the others were: Hersh, Hershel, Hurrican Hershey (that was from your Auntie Lesley) and of course, Mr. Brown.  You've gone over the rainbow bridge much too early.  It's so unfair, and it is breaking my heart.  I know you are not in any pain, mental or physical, any more; and no one can ever say anything bad about you.  No one could really appreciate you that didn't spend the time that your daddy and I spent with you. 

We got to see the real you, the normal you, and the potential of the complete, whole dog you could have been.  But, because of the cumulative circumstances, I decided I needed to let you go.  I hope that it's what you wanted now that you're in a better place and can compare there to here.  I tried my best to help you, but I failed.  I do know that in the short time we shared, that you learned what it was like to be loved and cared for and about.  Somehow I need to find peace about it, but it's going to take time. 

You were 3-1/2 years old, so the dates above are identifying the short time you spent with us.  Over the too short time we had, I saw what a magnificent, beautiful creature you were.  You were large for a cocker; daddy and I think you were a mix of a cocker and a springer.  I always said that someday I wanted to do a DNA check, not that it mattered, we were just curious.  I loved to pet and kiss the top of your block head and look into your golden eyes, and the whites were so white.  You were so young and full of life.  And, you had the most beautiful white teeth.  You were very strong and powerful.  Your chocolate fur was velvety to the touch and had so many variations of chocolate as it would catch in the sunlight.  There was a patch of white on your chest and bits of silver fur on your ears, and the cutest crop of curls on top of your beautiful head.  And, then, there were those big paws of yours, and you knew how to "shake".  To watch you running full speed across the backyard was truly something to see--you ran like a beautiful race horse--so, so fast--you outran everyone.  You were so intelligent; I often said you were too smart for your own good and too big for  your own britches.  I thought you would make a great agility dog, and I hoped someday to share that with you. 

Someday I will see you again; until then, you are with the best owner there could ever be and you are free and happy and peaceful.  Run like the wind my beautiful Mr. Brown!  Mommy and Daddy