Before Dylan was born
Before you were born, Dora went to the beach a lot. Papa took her to Oceanside Harbor and they walked out along the breakwater, past the boats. He took her to Carlsbad Beach and they walked along the shore. He took her to Fiesta Island in Mission Bay, which is a big open loop of land with paths and grass and other dogs, and she could run. She loved running after other dogs and chasing them around, which is one of the things dogs like best.
Papa wrote once that he was at Fiesta Island walking Dora and he thought his life was perfect. Not perfect in the way of having everything sorted out — just perfect in the way of being exactly where you were, with a good dog, on a nice day.
She was a good dog.