狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

http://www.worldjournal.com/view ... 9B?instance=wjengch

" _  i" N4 g& K( g$ F2 WBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

% I; x( X' o$ b: Y1 ]' M) 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。
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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.

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。

! M% F, E% Y6 D, B- SI 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.
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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。
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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.

% o' x( {: v& 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。
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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.
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- D) U  n/ T5 F$ j) I9 q$ 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。

- q  C1 J6 m* e8 yThe 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.

' m# s( n: Y" g/ R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。

: J8 @. L5 D8 d2 b( TShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
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7 Y  s" W  {  V1 l3 ^1 C7 k靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」
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1 C" M: a- w# K4 M$ f1 fStartled, 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?"
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5 B( D; m5 W) Q" a" O" N  _& q" G2 ]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？」
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& }& @6 ~# @) N, N4 W- C- X6 TThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)

8 y  N$ x1 E/ B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)

詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死
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2.transition：過渡，轉變
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/ |5 [, U/ o1 V9 u3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出

3 [! U8 {. G' X# C- ^6 B●狗老師的啟示…

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
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: J4 b0 _6 z; j# D記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：
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. Y, @* U  e  g7 W* m/ y9 ^When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。

, G+ C, f# O6 ~! qNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
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5 N0 Y& u: z1 z/ c3 b3 @- W. }永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。

- e- h3 |$ B7 N0 W5 |- N6 rThrive on attention and let people touch you.

' r- s8 K4 v" P% K3 [+ X5 E$ v隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。
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, @2 \7 F, q9 r5 w$ IWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。
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6 N6 c( s3 s" \# IBe loyal.

忠誠。

Never pretend to be something you're not.
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永遠不假裝。
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& l/ M  ^0 y! N3 V3 H( DWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

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。
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