3 l0 @: H3 i) t. D) rBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. 4 p6 G o6 B8 j 7 x4 d9 M3 \, C: A, _' R/ A身為獸醫，我曾被找去為一隻名叫「Belker」的10歲愛爾蘭獵狼犬看病。 9 I; L7 ]1 R3 V' \) s7 s/ j8 T2 ^) @5 [' `! u; U3 u! [. u- Y
The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.0 ~4 k, ^8 ~' G# ~/ K5 f
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Belker的主人羅恩，他的太太麗莎和他們的小男孩西恩都和Belker感情很好，也都期待奇蹟發生。 2 i1 L l( \/ T7 W7 t5 R $ X1 G) u! B! _8 {$ J l5 u/ rI examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. 6 I+ ~: g+ w% |3 t1 B" {9 d# F) O: w+ m& J. G
檢查後，我發現Belker罹患癌症，回天乏術；我告訴這家人，我們無法幫Belker做點什麼了，也建議在家中為牠實施安樂死。4 p% `- r2 n; S
2 j5 f+ F+ g$ J8 o8 u7 m% h7 V$ ]As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.7 ^& y J1 C1 F) L& l2 ^3 V. j
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在我們準備的時候，羅恩和麗莎告訴我，他們覺得讓西恩觀察整個過程會是好事，相信西恩也許能從這段經歷學到一些東西。2 V: _( _4 T L: L! b& c
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The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. 8 }: |8 \7 f! i; x, H* ] # F$ `. R5 g5 t1 \3 H: D& e隔天，這家人圍繞在Belker身邊時，我和以往一樣有了哽咽的感覺。西恩似乎很平靜，最後一次輕拍這隻老狗，我甚至懷疑他是否真的瞭解情況。幾分鐘之後，Belker安詳地死去了。 ! L0 P: @# Z% A1 H/ T# o " o& I3 O1 K2 qThe little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. ! U+ h3 I" A1 `* e* D/ p. O+ S5 L) |
小男孩似乎沒有太多困難和疑惑就接受了Belker的離去。我們在Belker死去後一起坐了一會兒，感嘆動物的壽命總是比人類短這個哀傷的現實。8 `- Z9 c2 J$ O% s+ z
8 G. J- G% T) Y9 ^Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."* i" [. D/ }' ~. Y8 u# W w, g
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靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 * B3 m: V Y, R. d+ J1 Z1 O8 i+ J& O2 \# u3 p. b& J2 g5 U& P
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"1 T' F1 I: N4 U6 L
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我們非常驚訝地轉頭望著他，接下來他說的話，令我大為感動，是我聽過最令人欣慰的解釋。他說：「人們出生就是為了要學會如何過好生活，比如愛身邊的人，好好對待別人，對嗎？」# C7 \5 E' K" Z* m( Z
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The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com). V) |) W$ ^1 {# O1 B, [1 [
, |5 x2 i8 s: V這個6歲的孩子繼續說：「而狗狗原本就知道怎麼做到這些了，所以牠們不需要活那麼久。」(取材自allone.com) " j4 ?# \. K) Y9 U* l/ @7 b) `1 D: [" s) `! Z
詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 9 n. `: L$ y) N+ l1 W- d3 D/ S O) c! [
2.transition：過渡，轉變2 d q* H9 k7 J5 G& n
; K A& W1 Z- M) ?. k3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 7 k. j& ]! F/ |: i9 H$ e* ]$ D+ I2 h( Q
●狗老師的啟示…, x( H; b( `2 V7 g$ v* r
8 N) I; I- _! Q! a) L/ S$ c, cRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: ' [( I& t5 t, g/ Q' b& k6 s) S4 ?, H' u8 @
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：+ K! p( q. ?( b, t0 ]
e* m# _. S5 _( W1 v; H% HWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them. * N7 _- b) r T2 E " L* I, [$ M2 J. Y* q/ ]9 \ Y當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。: _" @5 X: e1 o2 ]7 u. Z& E
, R+ C: V2 Z% k2 CNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. : {0 T9 h) _# r1 x7 k & x2 P) j+ W3 ^! ?* |# W o1 g永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。3 p2 R+ O8 u$ J- D
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you. $ Q, ?" C& `; i3 \% K9 v. |" x m6 o$ Y: m( Z4 |4 [
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。# I, S8 Q j+ O, [
0 O% T: j: E% {5 Q7 @( D0 h9 m. qWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 0 r0 B; L. k8 P/ O! u( t7 ~0 C% Z; r! T% v0 y* p& p, P G
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。# e/ B2 n- ]# p) n* Z' J
- G8 T Z! I1 f/ h- oBe loyal." B; X+ }3 c7 `
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忠誠。1 }7 [( F9 h" s: e
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Never pretend to be something you're not.; O* ^' c9 R C
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永遠不假裝。 + g+ d6 N; f4 S$ Y% A% t' @- Y4 X9 u+ K* @$ |
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.# n, j2 G- R" U: `& O4 _2 o# O