$ g7 \( E. ~3 x* `0 |Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. ) r% w& i; Q% o# Q% {4 w) E, k# n0 u6 m
身為獸醫，我曾被找去為一隻名叫「Belker」的10歲愛爾蘭獵狼犬看病。4 p4 T ~# I8 s L
- K: x* S3 U0 TThe dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. % `# J( t5 w8 p: b, J0 G& c& f; W# v/ ~0 A. D, ^8 E
Belker的主人羅恩，他的太太麗莎和他們的小男孩西恩都和Belker感情很好，也都期待奇蹟發生。 ) R, z B1 Y% b% ?/ g ) f7 F2 i0 j% y, eI examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. / h: I: k6 R3 y( u" n+ V1 w1 ]5 Y5 Q2 |& t9 k6 U2 m
檢查後，我發現Belker罹患癌症，回天乏術；我告訴這家人，我們無法幫Belker做點什麼了，也建議在家中為牠實施安樂死。 ! B$ j5 N% w w1 c! q+ _4 V% K, `7 ~8 a" B0 v
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. + E8 J6 V4 ~. E6 }& X+ }+ m0 r" e; \) Y; U/ U* T( q
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。" }/ a' t* ~: c
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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.4 X" n* h( i8 u% T' F
6 K9 Z, `& f7 j) T' G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。 5 r- {! d# @+ s# [& _1 d( G) O0 O , m! }7 X+ x' a$ q9 |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.$ Q A- _; s" Z, A- n0 i( E
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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。% j2 [/ W0 M8 c7 R5 Q
) U1 n, S, t( wShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."- r! S7 B0 g4 e0 M8 F4 ~+ w9 ^
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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。」 v& x, M7 v7 ^( C: o- E. m $ g7 c4 p3 r0 I L$ \! YStartled, 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?" ) k: {" u* [: H! B- g" w. p: L# l: n" _4 d1 v2 {
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？」. u+ ^$ m; f) N" d2 N# q; Y2 G6 k
5 V0 z' n: N1 g& Y7 [0 Q, T9 KThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)# g& l& ]% f0 `8 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)% g7 k5 a& H% J. e6 W* C( E
( `+ \4 w) A% v& h" K5 C詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死+ V: H5 }5 w3 k- G' }+ T3 [
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2.transition：過渡，轉變 % U4 y2 x% I, u" I. A! c% g4 o6 g7 j, V* ~
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出0 j6 ~6 h7 c2 C
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●狗老師的啟示…4 E; g @6 r) l* S
; z" B# F$ u. h& A# z( B2 PRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: 3 d! d- }# N( Z4 d# ^* {5 }: j" a) E5 p* v
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西： ! W' X% ]$ K5 H E- W # ^. g8 U9 M- u1 NWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them. % U+ Y7 G* M1 m; V8 x/ A. Y: a( y/ F) _' Z6 v1 e) N, g
當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。; u- E# V; u0 w" w- S) ?
1 o0 f0 Y! p; W' }* V1 \Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.4 }" ~, v; v- G* s7 O9 n
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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。# P8 u ]' R* ^+ y3 u3 o+ S, g! Q p& d
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you.* c! X2 y. H8 J m; f; k0 S. k
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。( u3 |8 G7 |. E
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 7 g5 y# v3 o( u" }* e& |) M / H z7 s+ u2 @0 D高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。% ^$ n2 T! }/ C
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Be loyal. 7 W6 v3 o9 d& t$ F; m2 X; @8 A& _& D2 Z, Q4 s8 N. P
忠誠。5 T9 {. W s9 g1 S/ q6 {6 B
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Never pretend to be something you're not. : X% f' ]1 z; ]; M1 G c# _; s ! G/ _0 V& N& K% s& e永遠不假裝。 / a/ M0 C3 f5 K. h 1 H4 G D% y I- F( mWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.# O& [( @: P; k; R
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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。 4 N* b2 u$ [! ~. R+ W+ H* _ + G7 G4 [7 x1 a- |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8 _7 u' A% j4 `, y( d