X+ T N% h* N( V7 W9 I( LBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. # J+ G* V' [# @8 _$ A z3 M9 [% Y) x" B2 j7 Y$ h9 X$ k. Q6 b
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。 $ p7 ` L! ^- V: m) i 6 X1 r2 K6 y# k3 G. mThe 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. ) W" Z$ w& g K8 I7 p9 f% Q, R8 s: q4 z/ U$ y9 W/ T! w5 q0 s
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。% w" G) S9 V6 z8 D4 B3 o6 @) c
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I 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.$ ]9 g" H6 `( j0 R
) n0 I# U; N; i/ c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。 / |' {! J! D5 L: ^0 B) f9 m7 i. q9 b. B) X' |* B( i: ~' U. ?
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. " N2 ~ B7 t. s, W ]' k6 x4 @/ @! [! u6 f
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。 / h% \2 W% N2 y! E u: S6 }+ b8 g
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. 6 |" i" c% X( c$ \, b; D3 ] $ ^$ @! b: m( _, A/ J* ]7 z" H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。- ~$ w. ~2 W. U/ Y! m" v
! V0 i6 {% H. ]- i z" a4 TThe 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. / u7 |3 r |8 a5 I+ |+ v# S 5 L& G5 q* i& [' X' h5 ]; J$ 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。* C) {) B# R2 D$ N
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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." 0 k" I. T$ v3 M, [- b9 Z* y. t( W7 q+ x2 J( k
靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」3 O+ y+ a( V- m4 r
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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?"4 j5 t8 M1 r5 u+ r4 e+ s0 ?& x
1 {# w( a" y2 O$ w2 g# G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？」 / T m. _( b8 E3 G0 [/ C5 l3 M0 L" i
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) 4 |/ ~0 Y! x Z4 U7 ~# F- | ]) q : p, }1 a! R) U" W8 q/ t( G8 F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)" ^( k$ H- I9 e' O
4 @0 s. R+ _* Y- m; s詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 , [" O; @ c+ |/ Y) g& }8 F3 ], A0 I- o
2.transition：過渡，轉變' h) p$ i1 s" w4 n& b
2 ?2 R- q( {, d/ i1 C( Q. @: A# Z3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出9 l/ a8 K& n! Y6 b+ m
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●狗老師的啟示… l1 y6 a( _7 k! ]+ O # r, D. V" ~1 Z- F& a9 ?Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: ) x; E1 R, q4 N* i; B9 _ $ T, [ N* Y: r% F記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： 6 p- u7 W; d. }3 d 9 L# d$ W; g4 c! sWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them.: U, i) R2 f, M" l) C" J: P9 U9 q
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 3 l+ Y7 V+ r0 e' u2 S8 X; c- D8 W+ a: C! } l/ |) ~
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. ) A0 P2 j5 M0 d/ G' U8 j 0 r& m [* X. f: G; u永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。7 M1 K- k i: v3 K. Q, h
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you.! F' p7 R, p4 q& E
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。/ N' Z0 _- T- |, y7 M" Q. V" [( z4 Z& s
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.4 o3 I H, D6 S& _# t
$ V- d5 ~' X D5 G8 z8 U2 Z高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。6 [3 ]9 e( l, i: m; w/ d! i
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Be loyal. 1 u+ A- \# ~* J- r$ x& C , R- ^2 H+ q0 A, S6 q忠誠。$ A' N, T) E. T' s% o4 Z
, e9 {5 m* C; h2 ]0 kNever pretend to be something you're not.* K, J$ `# ~& S6 B
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永遠不假裝。6 m9 Q, \. J1 i' e
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When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.9 s7 Z- I$ g" v, k' u
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如果家裡有人不開心，保持沉默，坐到他身邊，溫柔地拱拱他、安慰他。 ! l9 d: l1 L8 k5 E4 f. i3 o & D) T0 x3 N7 O& U* ?Read more: 世界新聞網-北美華文新聞、華商資訊 - 狗狗天生知道如何愛 5 o9 }3 B7 J K) L/ ?6 j