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.
0 @9 }7 f  z" z) t; J
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。
- @; t. m" B+ ^* K
/ r3 l3 i: U! R8 iThe 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.
& G- A. N9 b/ Q( a9 [7 h1 ~& ?5 E4 u
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。
$ t0 ]' r5 r/ i2 O! Y
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.
. c/ f: r' k4 X3 R
& K( b$ s& H- g+ a& ~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+ D; k/ H( i1 q4 i6 J
3 P6 X* n3 M/ ]% ~$ dAs 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 f% {& I- ]- s7 W6 m' _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.

: W+ ]( h, m8 g# L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.

! j  H" j9 L5 F% X1 H1 p6 o: 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。

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
, w9 ?1 L, w, ^) q) t8 a
# J) Z3 T9 ?) Q$ O1 O, q靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」

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?"
, {- y/ F& Q6 z6 v: a: e! t
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？」

$ @- P3 E4 s- SThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)
# F2 b! Z1 L' k; e/ d" K9 V2 b
$ _8 ~- Q  B! A: K- H2 h) l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)
# M- ?9 D3 P9 h. l  s
詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死

1 J+ t; o$ W2 u) d" I2.transition：過渡，轉變

3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
9 f% Y. N. r3 r- i' B) h2 ]! j# s
. r0 V2 [4 l0 u+ C4 V●狗老師的啟示…

) A7 c6 J% Y, i# W3 Y$ T; yRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

' r, I9 n; x+ z6 X9 Y) ^! w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.
9 z5 s$ X" }+ ]- ~) |, ^
$ |# J( U9 Z$ n0 M, M; ?當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。
1 m- N% D9 X* Q7 T
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
; w+ P/ J+ B; Z( T& _6 n. `# H
  |9 r3 y' I, B) K$ j7 @. p永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。

- `" c  n% t/ k; J) @# D; [& r4 gThrive on attention and let people touch you.

+ ^( i1 i. l' G, F  i隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
' w- A% r+ }; X4 q( Z
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

Be loyal.
0 e6 y  Y: J1 c) D
忠誠。
* @. \% F- d/ c. t$ T4 ?, I) z
Never pretend to be something you're not.
! {  e; e" c7 Y9 |3 w. {  N* b
永遠不假裝。

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
+ `0 h' Y$ y% w* Y! }1 T9 Y- ~$ t. n- \
" M1 F3 M: o" Q2 H( H2 ~1 |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。
4 `% _$ X; }4 x% c& Z0 O. a
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