5 f5 Y7 k# k. B4 j' S) EThe 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. 4 O- ], p [8 t% i J$ a: G5 a9 E4 u4 u7 e# 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。4 R; d/ E1 v3 a" `: F/ 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. + Y# b/ g% k# }: ]( r: s7 I5 J1 U0 g0 @( B8 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) n* T& _5 X8 j* l l+ L6 `1 k# U2 S6 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.( ?' y% T+ r' B9 v' v
7 J5 |) F2 k: ^ jThe 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.5 o# b, R7 l( y7 O9 q+ V3 s* r4 M
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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。 1 J" O! `$ [2 {9 C* D6 b4 v; h$ C J' f
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. 4 z5 n: t4 M' v! g. m0 t; u 4 {5 j) U$ t2 }1 r3 F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。: u4 T* w- \' S* S, |
8 T9 Q; _. L* u& z& A7 I0 z* N6 s xShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why.": b: f3 S- i/ [5 V0 p$ b9 I" Z! e# U
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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。」 & S h$ F. D' D0 q3 e) k. H 9 J7 s# x# L T k5 K( F) GStartled, 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?", [9 A- w8 F! V
6 t! O# j1 L0 s3 B- K/ {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?」- ?" v/ D: B/ B
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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). ^5 G% j; V$ h' V! q0 m
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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)4 S0 n7 {: A* c, y* I5 S- B5 G
( W7 |" n" f/ r- E+ K- d% L詞解:1.euthanasia:安樂死4 m. B# [6 R, y& c! E$ R3 U9 F
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2.transition:過渡,轉變 . N4 m. f! N, `3 v4 q 5 t# @# e! u. H8 j; ~" B' |3.pipe up:尖聲的說,脫口而出 # u6 L; _' |( J0 M) g- L; v# C- h. P! [& [# H
●狗老師的啟示… " Y3 F+ C( g* p5 u $ h5 U, {: P- [Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:$ e( p5 I. ^; x3 K
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記住,如果狗狗曾經是位老師,你會學到這些東西: " c; J! G" X* Q1 }4 l$ a9 k+ K5 G1 H/ ?7 }9 c
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.& {6 k% v% Z4 M4 E& o3 t W
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當心愛的人回家了,永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。2 a0 w! b& M. X- R5 ?
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. - H8 S! }9 A, C2 f) n* J/ k; q T% ~2 \2 ?* x1 a9 b
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。1 U2 f4 W! x' T
1 ~2 O: v# o$ d- UThrive on attention and let people touch you./ Y' A& I+ I" Q" `
, k1 t3 ?0 _2 P2 n# y隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 6 n. z/ f( @" r( `) o1 r2 j r- w0 h$ V8 u+ p$ q+ M3 L9 K
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 9 Q0 x% i2 k y) }8 L' U" n+ H9 ?2 s: S9 ?( \5 K' t3 S- D4 ~
高興的時候,跳舞並搖動整個身體。 E2 d7 E* L+ `! ]) b( b8 u+ H$ h; G4 Z' A+ q; s, C
Be loyal. : f7 V) F: l4 R6 P* n# s& T, f/ y, m5 J: U
忠誠。 7 K% b' x! R7 g$ n& K/ |% d* Q; a
Never pretend to be something you're not.& y P1 T& H9 C" s' b5 `+ D4 {
9 q0 T* i, @$ i6 d0 J永遠不假裝。 1 ~) T4 `" D) P$ r" H0 D$ \; S3 F I& J
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.0 S3 m) e3 w( W3 l
" D! H# N* d r9 P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。 : F5 }8 F1 H! d$ P' Q2 p: R- @7 @+ C# Z# D; Q0 j( v+ f+ O. M9 V4 g5 w
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4 T5 p, X W6 o; [8 }7 L