狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

http://www.worldjournal.com/view ... 9B?instance=wjengch
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0 s5 M, K7 P3 pBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.
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$ z: m* t/ H5 K4 r+ v3 k7 A+ Z$ g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.
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7 ]- ^' |) T  H8 S5 b' m0 ?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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0 ~+ m' E4 t* c4 A- L- {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.

. u3 ~5 C0 |1 B7 R0 |- i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.
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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。

/ w$ Q0 H8 ]6 MThe 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.

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。
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" x3 I6 J# ?' E7 SThe 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.
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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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Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

  \& K' E$ r4 {  K! P8 V0 j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?"
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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？」

$ W" d; X5 G+ {( U7 i: wThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)

- x4 B2 ?# D% z4 j8 n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)

# B) ]3 l, `, p4 m/ a) M- _, Z詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死

2.transition：過渡，轉變

0 ?- n; O, @% u0 h3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
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●狗老師的啟示…

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：
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When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
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8 O( h5 H9 K2 E; V% R' {; J當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
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8 T, n, k" U8 u永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
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7 v7 m  e0 Z4 c4 zThrive on attention and let people touch you.

6 n" B, U' ?6 U  N' ?4 V  e隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。
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2 N2 [/ c4 |; O2 dBe loyal.
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忠誠。

Never pretend to be something you're not.
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, x5 q* ~3 l. H永遠不假裝。

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
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2 Y! F, Z  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。

, S# z) j. E; I: H% ~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
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