狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

http://www.worldjournal.com/view ... 9B?instance=wjengch
; {) R! d8 L3 E" c
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.
, k$ h# x& I+ q# d# r/ @
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。

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.
  j9 [4 g. E7 g9 o( _
: A+ q2 [3 B( EBelker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。

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.
3 ~% H8 D  Q( m* z& @
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。
' e3 d- s2 z- X
! b6 o' l1 {- O7 h8 @& I0 \4 SAs 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.
9 A( F% c+ F6 n# t2 ]' ^
0 v2 ~. d8 r3 X) D1 A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。
/ D' i4 l( j/ [5 g+ i0 V. J
/ i9 v& R9 {+ ?( e- O3 rThe 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.

: D- i- ^% A0 w. D* l8 j/ q2 B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。
" m5 A1 N# O4 Y+ B6 L
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.

4 {7 i" n0 D; z$ J- q% D) b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。
( r) W% A- q2 M- o) V9 q2 _  @
Shane, 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。」
# C: T! ?1 ]' w2 v: Q6 [
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?"
3 Z' v! I6 y; r1 [" b
" S- X$ f9 I+ P- e: z. b1 C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？」

+ R0 U+ Y4 V% q6 v+ z6 nThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)

% s/ C* t1 c! R; E* w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

2.transition：過渡，轉變

3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出

●狗老師的啟示…
1 z& d. Q* ~8 U" n9 P
! H( `  M1 b( }3 P8 kRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
0 [* S& }8 _6 j# |
  s+ w3 T* \9 m; v, u. [9 H; o3 f記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：

3 j+ y6 m3 i, J8 L" `' B( ~& QWhen 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。
! H  r( o3 d& Y  t+ l4 F/ ^
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
- P, J" k! F1 [8 g. d% F9 m
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。

  `: U" R( o4 B( z1 t- v* `, g, RThrive on attention and let people touch you.
6 L9 D. G# [; x  i
  n0 r% s8 f$ F0 P隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。

2 o; ~, ~" L# r; y. {When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

1 }* }8 \: O  \2 A) E& y/ K高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

Be loyal.

忠誠。
1 E0 V% G/ M& W# e1 T
  ^' s; h6 g  m8 ?Never pretend to be something you're not.
' ^1 j: ^5 a, f! d" a3 \
" [' @$ G/ \' R; H# Y. ^永遠不假裝。

0 j  j: u, P  ~2 F* OWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
* C/ D1 p6 L# j/ _
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。
5 {/ s/ C% E* Z, Q- I$ F* G
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