I wanted to share the following with you all. It was written by my ex husband and son, both of whom loved Hiway very much and were always a big part of his life.
I, Hiway, because of the burden of my illness and realizing the end of my life is near, to hereby bury my Last Will and Testament in the mind of my Mom; she will not know it is there until after I am dead. Then, remembering me in her loneliness, she will suddenly know of this; I ask her to inscribe it as a memorial to me.
I have little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are wiser than men. They do not set great store upon things. They do not waste their days hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep with thoughts of how to keep objects they own. There is nothing of value I have except my love and my faith. These I leave to those who have loved me, to my Mom, who I know will mourn me the most, to my companions, Adam and John. But if I should list all those I leave my love to, it would force my Mom to write a book. Perhaps it is vain of me to boast when I am so near weather, which returns all beings and vanities to dust, but I have always been an extremely exceptional dog.
I ask my Mom to remember me always, not not to grieve too long. In my life I have tried to be a comfort to her in times of sorrow and a reason for added joy and happiness in her life. I will never be able to express my gratitude to my family for adopting the puppy who was tossed along side the road and left for dead to be forgotten. Because of Mom, I don't remember what it was like not having a family. It is painful for me to think that in my death I should cause them pain. Let her remember that, while no dog had a happier life; I have grown ill and pained. I should not want my pride to sink to a bewildered humiliation. It is time for me to say good bye. It will grieve me to leave my Mom, but death holds no sorrow. We dogs accept it as part of life, not as humans do as something alien and terrible that destroys life.
What will come after my death? I will be in a place where one is always young and hale. I will greet my brother, Mimi and Ami; I will romp in fields and swim in clear rivers with those who have gone before. Every hour is meal time; in every evening their is a fireplace with logs forever burning. I will curl in front of the fire and dream of my family left behind, along side the family I have been reunited with. This seems much to expect. But I know it will be.
One last request I earnestly make. I ask my Mom, for love of me, to love another. It would be a poor tribute to my memory to never have another dog. What I would like to feel, is that after me, she cannot imagine living without a dog. I have never had a narrow spirit. I hold that most dogs are good. Some dogs are better than others (like me of course) therefor I suggest a Lab mix as my successor. She or he can hardly be as well mannered, as distinguished and beautiful as I, but my Mom shouldn't wish for the impossible. They will do their best, as I did, and their inevitable follies will help to keep my memory green. To him or here I would like to bequeath my only possessions; my collar, my leash, my soft bed. I leave for them my place in the car, by the open window that I so loved.
One last word for farewell my dear Mother. Whenever you think of me, say to yourself with regret, but also with happiness "he is the one who loved us all and the one we all loved". No matter how deep my sleep, or how far I have traveled, I shall hear you and no power, especially mere death, could stop me from wagging my grateful tail.
Thus ends my last will and testament.
With all my love and gratitude.
Hiway