8 K" q. R/ R1 C0 ~Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. 2 W7 `0 p# S( M0 i9 l% @" Y+ V2 i2 g5 W- N. _6 J4 z8 z
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 H$ V m5 \+ S3 o$ \( C8 J( `: a7 T9 j" G
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.; k+ F, c" Y8 _" T
* W5 c* _8 e5 [, o8 R5 QBelker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。+ @. l' x! n) y
) A7 h# T% {9 K3 qI 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. + ~% c2 i0 h# r. K" g+ ?1 F . Q7 X8 j0 Z. E7 e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. A2 w( @. O% n ' \& t. W$ s' F' R4 M% i0 _- TAs 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. # \' F! p( C5 V6 |# S0 Z # h w3 O& j! W0 Z) ?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。 8 ~9 R, P1 L# b X+ _6 Y) P, K, c; S& k6 P" s
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.: j# s2 [2 f8 G! ^6 x5 C! s, J8 K
! J1 Y6 f! i0 s- y' X. 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。 1 j9 N' m! r! f. b, q1 `) {) I& n3 K8 N1 S# _6 t9 r
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. 7 F" f' k: w% y6 N* t" ` ' a D6 d. f- I( t* [: 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。7 I3 | ?; S- E, h
' r% D( A6 `0 F, J# m2 d' N& B3 L8 JShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." $ z ^: E) u2 z7 `6 r& ^8 _, I 6 E2 P( g9 y0 N6 o3 e" d' |) j靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」 : p, H" ~- ]$ f1 v8 @4 D; W" }' ]4 L- X4 D1 d) w8 D
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?" : G/ D2 J7 _* h5 u& R. A3 Q& P* Y
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？」! g* M( X" S8 F: ]
# v5 S! H) S4 N$ l5 L% G' L9 \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 ^& S$ x( q7 b& `4 ^ ! y3 U) c) ^3 x; T* ], V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) $ c Q. e# J* ]# S- B 9 |: f9 c6 W& y: O0 Y* J詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死+ {0 @ M' U4 {4 n/ F4 K& P) B3 S
. s+ }. l& U7 j2 f' u, G2.transition：過渡，轉變% n, k2 R1 P- N6 r! R
0 n6 ~5 z& r3 T. Y% }3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出 ! m* I m% {* L' o4 @& V2 E* F7 T : H/ ]/ B3 K& t6 A: a* a- V●狗老師的啟示… : E( B4 w! C% }0 z; [$ `2 K% U' `2 \: j# M1 H' ?( u
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: % O X9 K$ I' c; [& Z: x4 W! O7 w% j/ T: D+ A G" v/ U0 ]
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： : `4 ?* m" A/ {* G2 |6 n1 q( B! O" B
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. ; K! B# O! u- h, a # k( T L% C' _6 G當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。: v4 E% k( {3 U, p
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. D4 a" {# _8 \. Z7 q9 u. g g* E) [. v. ~& q7 z
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。 " \) K) h8 {; A1 M! e3 H5 {4 y- ]7 @9 G: [
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.: {! { V0 ^8 N9 r8 h
/ [: M" V. F1 i隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。+ _* s& S: l7 l& Y. v+ Y
/ V; N5 p* B# f8 I/ y- P% XWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.1 I" c+ t3 o7 M9 B2 |
7 z4 u3 C1 S6 b3 |( p B. s* ? Y高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。 % T l- H- n7 R/ W/ n9 q" M5 K( g( Q" @
Be loyal.4 j( v2 M J# `6 a3 d$ F# p
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忠誠。$ _9 U' }# |. F- t7 ~0 C
( x; x% y; E- w/ ANever pretend to be something you're not. : j; Z7 ^/ d* x Y% q! ?- `0 t0 P; T5 {( ^7 a) t& |
永遠不假裝。: {" B. C; z& R' Y7 u% A' m4 w
3 U: T! R- h4 ^; pWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.2 U2 W& b! R! _% j/ N5 g, I
7 o M1 ~9 F Q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。 " z2 F4 X7 ]/ m) |! @2 l6 n9 v. s9 \ , ?5 G2 A9 S9 ?" ]6 L# hRead 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 # z. L! X5 s" g2 K* a/ `9 `