狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

http://www.worldjournal.com/view ... 9B?instance=wjengch
4 K. M! C4 c2 @" W# m8 _
9 e/ q) `- |) v' E2 f7 p/ pBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.
$ l2 f( z* o( n5 q
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。
+ o  I/ z! q  c6 D2 v4 n& q
: A4 J) p( f0 ~- ]" U2 U! P; QThe 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.
# R9 w7 Z+ D+ K! Z/ H& {0 n
/ g8 Q" ]8 r' j/ y' K2 A( s1 nBelker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。
+ b2 ]; a; Y1 l+ i( x: ]2 U' C) {
/ ~8 T. l# |6 I# k# R' @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.
0 D1 D* ]( [8 a. X6 `
5 W  a' c! B: U9 ~4 x/ }# _3 V3 ^. @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。

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.
$ l& f) x2 r4 [( w/ f( f
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。

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.
: m1 ^  G; }( i. F3 E7 o
5 f1 v( c- A" g3 Q( D8 ^+ @  y& f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。
, I6 B9 G6 O0 d5 a& C0 k
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.
* T" t2 r. G( a" p- _6 t/ C
, N$ E6 j% Z1 s% L4 H( {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 z8 e4 a6 W/ FShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」
2 N3 {, m/ ~, K! X
5 J# @' N6 \& g, zStartled, 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?"

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？」

The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)
3 K1 ^! g" D- B: 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)
; X5 e6 b$ j7 I
  w2 Q# \% c4 G0 C# Z+ G' \詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死
. G4 m2 t3 A& V
# `8 Q3 V+ V2 F2.transition：過渡，轉變

: U; _6 ^' D3 S. z9 p3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
( M" ?5 j3 C! r& j1 G7 k
4 o% ?$ x0 R: a9 K8 p/ l& |●狗老師的啟示…
& F# w8 P5 J  H" ]" Z, a2 U
$ _# W1 |) |/ Z4 hRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

5 y) C8 ]( P. ?記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。

/ m: T% K" h) [, y% [" b) P7 N& Q& }Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
; J; |( K! c4 Q; L2 L( u! q! T) K! x5 @
9 |  B, y. Q! p永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
; B* i: M9 x* A5 t* _
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。
+ m4 ^- V( J& l, [$ b- E
$ ]! Z, q7 o7 ^) yWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

* j* D2 G) R. r, l+ r高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

4 I6 y6 h0 J1 ~4 j) X. ~Be loyal.
1 d: ]; K+ a9 U# R, w+ _( p4 s
忠誠。
0 Q# @/ M0 f' x" s
6 h& o1 G1 ^0 Z% t5 P# r! |Never pretend to be something you're not.
" n- L8 a5 }4 T% W' `3 S1 n8 S" t
. z% B' o% u' p9 p& u: A永遠不假裝。

0 M& @8 K4 ?$ \5 \8 PWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
9 |+ W" R7 w$ N! h% ~- F- B' ?
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。
; I3 b, x! Q6 I% J( M/ Z$ i5 F
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