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Cancer

by Hershey
Hershey with family on Mt. Hood in the snow

It seems that my cancer has come back. You know that I had a tumor removed from my right shoulder a few years ago. It has been a bit stiff ever since but nothing that would slow my enthusiasm too much. This past winter I began to develop a few lumps on my skin that proved to be a recurrence. Late this summer they seem to be popping up everywhere. Jim tells me that this can happen sometime with cancer.

The snow has been wonderful this year. There was so much of it we went sliding on it all summer. Every time a new guest arrived, we took them up Mount Hood to experience winter in the middle of summer. The opportunity to ride in the van each weekend is fabulous and you should hear everyone in the van when I pass a little gas. You’d think the world had ended.

We had quite a few fun camping trips. I met a few new dog friends and protected my family from bears during the night.

Hershey’s final resting spot

I do suspect the end is near. I’m tired a bit more. When I’m gone, they’ll probably be relieved that my hair is not everywhere (Can you believe Susan actually puts a barricade in front of my couch every night so I can not sleep on her new slipcover? What does she think I am, a dog?). Jim won’t have to clean up the front yard every week and there won’t be all those green spots in the lawn from my fertilizer. Of course there won’t be anyone waiting to welcome everyone to the house. There will be no alarm system like my sixth sense. Who will they pet when I’m gone?

Hershey died on October 11, 1999.

The author: Hershey (December 1991 - October 1999)

Written September 1999