狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

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

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

+ H. e! |& w% H+ A0 R( Y# z7 p+ n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。

; Q; p3 e: n4 Z# ZThe 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.
: S" }5 \# v7 z& r' k! {+ k& p( @
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。
; Z- d! J( |2 o' u; I& o
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.
' ?! n# k9 ?( ?+ \
# z, r3 o) `. J5 d: e3 L" `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。
6 ^4 p# X# n% W+ l  \& N+ L
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.

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.
1 k: A" k/ \7 G* `6 b% y/ a
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。

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.

8 D' u$ }! `; S1 t6 T. m( [- T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。
6 I) l) L$ o- R$ b4 e( G. s5 L
. I. F" d! v7 b8 K5 h6 k- L) jShane, 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。」
! H5 _; a& M6 k
& Q8 v6 r8 p% g3 m( w) A+ u) hStartled, 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?"

- H$ P& b/ e" E0 j6 U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？」
6 l. y2 r9 O. L$ u) r; q
; [9 D5 P" L; kThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)
: `( [0 A: N' j3 J$ \
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)
- \' @% ~4 @# r  f: m
詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死

6 S$ ?& E; }, M" |4 l) R! C2.transition：過渡，轉變
- w2 n1 P1 j( g5 |4 Q
7 x' k1 d4 O; Z: _" a" D& D3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
7 V- I3 |2 a  d6 {3 t7 ]' ^
●狗老師的啟示…

' ~# g6 L9 P4 ]7 kRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
0 W" t# L" g& l) |: c" r
$ k0 {/ J+ ?7 X, b# T記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：
) a& j/ b! r" F
7 n% ?6 q; d2 K! JWhen 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。
6 \7 m+ k; o4 b7 N% u  Y
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
1 l, m  }: a; g4 b# |% ^- H& i
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
1 F' G( B3 E0 T1 A/ J2 z$ x" d4 B
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
$ O6 h; N- S( P+ p: e- o
. k- f/ p4 Z/ g  L1 k3 @3 I% c9 n& x高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

0 l& h, g( K. @; ^  J% P& vBe loyal.
( R2 i9 b$ m- l0 _  R; i5 F. x( M
' H4 o$ D( R9 C+ s3 P/ C忠誠。
4 V/ G; ^# x8 {3 `, {
Never pretend to be something you're not.

永遠不假裝。

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
4 r# P( j* J7 }) Y; u# O: ?! g
& L9 @- v+ y1 ]" r* Y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。

) P' n6 \, ~- v8 C! vRead 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 y8 E2 Y, {# ~' q