$ f& M9 j4 z8 w, @* M- `4 W% y8 dBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. 6 i z' [0 u3 {7 Y8 C & R! X8 r, A: D2 y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。 + G) h6 k, J G5 ] v% _, T4 e. H * m H3 e n* s0 [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. " @7 {+ K+ Q8 l% E- \' t: s4 g! Q- b7 A
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。 ( k' C( o/ m* W4 K 7 a( ~* w! T* L: @: E) A jI 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.8 L2 [% V- j6 K* V8 e
. d) {( H, s% B
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。 : h/ u. \9 r* b. s% t8 S: @. a$ D0 P1 d
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.1 Z+ f, e1 f: i" t! e& W% }
7 m) H* ^, X1 l& 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。 % W! h$ I- E4 G5 z6 [/ y. H p) k% w
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.; o1 u5 B. B: v
( Z4 a& Y* g% \& p
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 Y* S1 u% }8 H) K5 U f F + w- [5 k- O& V3 J' IThe 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.6 s9 O# ?8 E; m6 L6 T1 A( l
$ a) a) K1 W H" l- u& Y Q
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 d# i+ D" b& y" Q. u# M- {9 E1 _5 f
, A1 J9 A( A3 g% g' f' ~) nShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why.") t8 W! m, X: b+ e! g1 ^2 T/ t
d% H! j& X% J( Q) W$ ?7 e靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 ' b# i4 q) c5 u5 K2 i! V( i+ o 8 x+ G2 g' [( g9 D% 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?" : w7 \* |8 f# P+ ?5 ] ~( M/ E/ ^! e$ e) w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？」: m l# K7 l$ d6 L% `# ?/ K" m
: z/ t# O, v4 D3 N5 X8 c
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)% W3 P: s, h/ T, S( P3 u; a
0 u, Q2 E6 k4 C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): X' H3 Y6 }* d+ c; K; f
* f1 `# E7 c4 J' S8 r! h詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死 8 A0 d% `( h/ d, t8 O a0 b- k2 z9 ^& i6 Q% V; h( j
2.transition：過渡，轉變 : z7 X2 R% Z9 W6 y1 K1 N6 W5 j8 A- w/ U4 L' Q( H, k7 A, G
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出, V6 W% ]9 \( D$ f0 B% q
! j1 X+ o' @ {9 h' r
●狗老師的啟示… 2 P9 K: o1 {9 P/ H ) g2 t3 F l# L- k5 r1 TRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:6 Y8 ? b! a; K/ ^ u7 c, L1 i: J
- }) a4 b4 }2 K# p
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： / U. d7 {5 V9 @6 z; G5 e) z3 U0 Q6 M6 P- d# F
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. & z8 j; J* a9 o \ 1 E, J4 h9 o0 a8 d6 K: E當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。 ! e; P% W2 P6 @& d5 ~ ! e/ m5 R$ K& y# D# w* |Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.; a1 n* J! p" D% g! r. F0 f- c6 X
& ?! D( b0 Z8 A1 G7 A. n* J% z永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 5 c( v+ C7 Y4 [! u. U8 Y( e6 b+ T* X4 F! C# p# |( I! _% R# `8 t
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.; i0 N% ?1 P# [) H. u: H
! A" z; z, ?% z9 `) t) v
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。 7 `, w/ c0 J4 [# n$ f0 h; V, {! Q( q4 W" G* ?: p5 l* ~ ]
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.: `! [8 W4 U2 z9 x! w2 ]
9 s1 U6 [& E) q/ z! @: T- }高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 : ~* T% A7 B5 C, |, v( S% I/ e
Be loyal. ' A& V! E" f2 y, O$ k5 s6 J) D1 i& ?, }! @, m, X
忠誠。( W+ V; h' K" e4 e0 P) R8 G
2 s1 F- I1 a5 v% S6 ^, y6 S. x4 X
Never pretend to be something you're not. ; m$ C/ l) x1 g' C + {4 j: c3 j3 ^9 m7 ?3 p永遠不假裝。 " F0 s1 z) C# I: N6 s: b5 C i* X2 g
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.6 x9 Y. k( i7 D N
0 D2 v1 h- \ h4 S
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。 / }& u7 \ B/ M4 T' ~7 N5 V+ V0 Q: ^. J1 P/ y5 H- q: ]( m
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1 R" n/ F/ ~; \" b