! N4 S" T$ h: q a# p& ^7 DBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.8 O! J2 T2 m# A- S) Q; j9 D1 a
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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。8 d/ n! u; A o4 G
3 d6 r, p, M$ H; {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.& D, ~! v4 j4 s0 X7 E2 |" r K$ _. X) z
/ c+ W( r0 I2 nBelker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。- {: P/ [. h' _ \ A
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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.5 m* f" s/ E& q7 O ]/ S
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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。/ y I* C. |' v/ [8 t9 V, C2 x2 ^
! l7 J6 I5 ^2 p# ?2 dAs 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. - P$ {$ C- j% n( A% A4 \ 4 D5 r0 j! Y/ K/ r0 F6 M- G3 {; u& x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。- k+ F* v2 d) `' N
; P, Z6 r- [4 I; pThe 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./ s) j, Z# i! c2 e& K" E3 g
x/ U- \# B/ T5 a6 `- B# @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。" x2 \! M/ O* z" K) y a
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The 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.9 a% u* O, g7 | O' J
" V; I' q& b$ m) W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。 6 x1 ?/ d; h" s, r3 n/ ?4 Z5 x$ p f" b* @+ m9 y
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."& u5 U) B$ d d3 O6 O% p5 o
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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。」 a/ O% g- N$ J7 g N0 O( `# |, o: t2 o
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 L1 p ~8 O! ~$ E" e5 w
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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？」 , ?$ p/ X" M0 e ]; ]! u0 g5 t1 R+ c; V( Z7 E6 x0 z$ O X5 [
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) + i6 `' Y; Y h' X' Z+ t7 h% l8 }9 \+ A* ?" P# Z4 A
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) 5 X, U8 W+ ~2 `0 F' H9 k ' S& m) m5 G) }0 ?! } u) W詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死! f% }3 s5 t$ j& s( E. S
. S" W* @1 |5 a* h3 l; y2 M2.transition：過渡，轉變 - v9 l+ L9 R8 A* O* u1 c+ P! X+ G! N& w. I
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出( ?1 V W1 s: I& D" s$ S
9 O: A) W3 V$ p0 A: N+ Q●狗老師的啟示…& J" O$ n* g4 p0 T2 H
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Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:( C3 y' L9 E9 `7 N
2 V/ K, ?0 m. O5 R8 z8 T: y記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： 4 ^7 X$ g. l, g' ?; L$ P* K3 k$ U/ ?9 g8 z( l0 y
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.1 n( M! T/ V, a. k, c+ |7 a& }$ Q9 G! b0 A
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 , Z: \+ F2 n6 O5 ?2 J! n Y4 O1 u6 w7 P7 ?! |" x, v/ B- F
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.* h$ t; c% ?( o; o
1 x0 s6 ]% D6 t; h0 g$ `, i7 E永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。- }$ n6 ^5 n, b5 m% i% X% \4 w4 t
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you. 7 D, {6 d: D% \% R( ]/ L5 M- h D8 a/ `8 U" |9 B
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 0 A2 Z2 t. A+ `1 }2 {) B ! F, k; e( n8 M* gWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.1 r+ a. D7 g) I$ c7 P S
% Q$ b' I- k7 ^' P: t0 i高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 2 O, q, S# i3 | ^) s, p: e( D, u, Y
Be loyal.. \2 X! p. I( T- o' m2 ]
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忠誠。' P3 a3 a+ L; }6 C( t
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Never pretend to be something you're not. 4 o* B5 e' s. G/ U b! F9 X9 T z8 Q, H, T$ Q
永遠不假裝。 3 g6 K2 [8 n! U ( [' W/ v2 ^% C9 W5 qWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. , m/ [9 I6 ~: R1 K6 }* J. h' H% u3 b! J7 E
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。% U1 _ |% u2 |- k3 k
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