I barely remember the first day I met Jessica. We both were interning at an indie music magazine in Los Angeles. We used to go to lunch together. We had bonded over sorting through and cataloging giant mail crates in the office and exchanging CDs at Amoeba Records.

It’s been over 11 years since those days and every time I drive by the Gower exit off the 101 N, I still think fondly back at all the memories made at the now-defunct magazine. Looking back, I’ve stayed in touch with so many talented folks from that garage-converted office. We were so young. So on the verge of everything.

When you grow with people like that, they end up going through everything with you. Jessica was one of the first people that I told about Cy, when I adopted him and when he was diagnosed.

When she heard about Cy’s bucket list, she immediately added a trip to Park Bench Cafe in Huntington Beach. Calif. She described it as a restaurant attached to a dog park, or near a dog park.

We planned to head over after work one day, but found that the place was only opened during the day. So Cy got to meet one of my best friends over cocktails (he had water) one night, instead.

We ended up going to Park Bench Cafe with Jessica’s family, husband Jason and daughter Ryland, on a Saturday morning.

Cy was in squirrel-chasing heaven. Unfortunately for me, that meant constantly being on the defense so he didn’t drag me into the swampy water. We had a quick breakfast and walked the entire park... which was not nor near a “dog park.” Instead it was surrounded by a large park that allowed dogs (we forgive you, Jessica).

Eleven years ago, I don’t think I would have ever predicted writing this, but… it was a nice family day at the park.