狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

http://www.worldjournal.com/view ... 9B?instance=wjengch
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5 \6 K% e. J* x/ u5 e4 LBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.
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+ m# ]* k7 S/ x6 ~; D- S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.
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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。
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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.

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。

$ V  z+ q4 c& R6 G) K- I0 |  _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.
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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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' G# I# J. T5 l$ T) OThe 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.

. q% p+ C% i" W% V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。

0 K3 b2 X- U) a0 j) B" gThe 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.

- z) u) {5 |0 @3 Q  z$ @: i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。
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2 y) U& _5 w0 T9 w) U* m& v( sShane, 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。」
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6 y6 D; Y$ W6 ~, F. ?; \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?"
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& f: D# F! K1 Q+ T$ t9 ~' K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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) s6 f8 W' H2 [( RThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)

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)
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% x( M6 h. A* e9 |% f) P9 ~5 h詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死
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2.transition：過渡，轉變

3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出

●狗老師的啟示…

: g  Y3 V/ B, I  sRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
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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.
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當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
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- {6 H- A3 q* j永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
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隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。

& O0 ~  Q6 \0 ~9 K2 T- N5 IWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
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高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

7 H6 R% E- p. b. I  }$ OBe loyal.

忠誠。
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Never pretend to be something you're not.
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" [9 o) M  x+ e8 m, e. x  X1 V: G永遠不假裝。
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$ i9 H) N3 u9 h. cWhen someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
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2 a' G7 T5 P' o' W. o$ a' K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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