; j" U( n, A8 j( B' t' v) v$ oBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. - c, `0 ~% D; G4 t5 @& }+ K# j; E4 }$ m4 g* K
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。 0 A0 ?' b8 Q. z/ Y9 _ 1 [" H1 a* d& J( R2 K! o+ H- aThe 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. . j: Q# ^8 {0 j, M4 H/ Q H% ~% l8 s% o5 j9 ?* ^4 w
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。 # m1 [4 P1 _8 K; w ; u! @: ]! i3 I' f; z( C% YI 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.* r, n/ u- q% j) Z
9 E+ m7 t2 _! [6 B7 w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。1 _! ^0 n& S r2 U
- \4 }. m+ D7 O" `/ P" cAs 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. . L( l6 n R+ P! o3 ~/ j ) ?6 W7 O6 ~1 T8 }# N0 n; C( U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。: Q; R, D) O3 J9 J' O( Q
1 u8 b w% @- p: vThe 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. 2 a. i! o9 N6 ?$ u% B6 X4 Y( T8 O5 |) V+ G, O% T' Z
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。 6 e+ K3 l- h8 b b2 { : j" f: P: n8 Z/ v2 i: R+ N: NThe 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.0 p5 Y) [: p" v n8 u
7 {( G$ r& L' x1 A( I& \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。 + s: _8 w( [+ T2 k! Y; `+ m: R$ d/ q/ i8 I
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." ) |' f' h* M# I2 a# D, a 7 N2 }/ {# K/ A靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」, O6 ~6 x6 I. P. w# k- @" P
6 ]: H$ [. @/ X
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?" - ~, m. U0 I J& W+ n9 |# l( M$ y/ u* e/ ~" m/ G) `3 v
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？」* B! f+ N5 K+ p; K7 t( o2 t
5 E8 {# U3 k! ]0 l
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com) . k$ p# @: b$ ^; n( H. |/ a* {' K, h. A. ?9 J y- u9 r) \, S
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) ) p+ a- N* Q# K; t# D ! `) A$ e# R& @! F詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 * U" q8 {6 P1 Q& {) ` 0 z, s* B7 H c( N" w, Q; E2.transition：過渡，轉變; Y- c" w4 |3 b6 Q! R. u
, C$ a) \- g' B- p
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 & Q3 a$ h6 m4 m# Y3 F- `8 a& Z6 M3 P2 M, |9 ]3 J9 `
●狗老師的啟示…3 E$ F0 u4 _6 h
) {( f" `* V- }( HRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: # H/ D0 `! F: ^% U& b$ Y. W h+ h. S+ z0 H7 A
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： ( }3 t4 n* J- M' a# V- x5 M# Y" z" y
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. " }& S2 s1 c3 i5 c/ ?& |) |) B1 j! Y8 [8 X( _, C% A9 Q* o
當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。% a* P- b6 K" g
0 h% t1 F# m0 w; D
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. ) W4 {: e% e3 B) w2 v : p' R$ V* p: P3 o& b! N永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 , l+ K2 d0 F$ ]! y8 w {: L, C# @: ]) `( C! K$ d8 a
Thrive on attention and let people touch you. * F& P% U: r8 G9 y& o+ d2 i1 s. L+ x$ v
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。( f8 X0 I1 Z- [
, l: w7 A$ S6 w/ Z3 yWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 7 R5 j: G, K/ _0 d7 L/ j7 C, J! L6 F% L# V- p0 \
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。3 S0 ~$ V' S* m W
5 r3 u" U2 v4 U3 Y! o, ~" F2 Z4 N- W
Be loyal.1 V7 S: E: H# C5 ?7 N" C
9 S& D2 B: Q( Q2 X$ M) O0 I
忠誠。 9 K. a7 J) ~" G# m9 w 5 A6 d& t7 N8 e* d6 S; wNever pretend to be something you're not.5 @' w$ a% c, X4 v+ e$ ]
; Q0 g0 a# @0 P1 i8 r( Y9 y
永遠不假裝。 . L- `9 l4 {6 S! p5 i9 Q" V- j: ^; a6 s: ^4 a, ]' U' I
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.( t8 o& _3 v& v8 C1 {; ]# M
7 q# D I; g9 S/ r# T1 O2 W5 F
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。 $ M) c6 W% R2 i4 e5 P" r5 e( A, a, V2 x: Z
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 * ^& E/ J" h) u5 e/ j* x