狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

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

7 n& o! u! {" O' }Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

8 T! a0 C" {# ]* u0 K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.

. I+ I3 ~1 E$ w8 S8 J* sBelker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。
2 a: L2 d6 q) J* O1 P5 w
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。
/ ~: f' x0 P/ b3 E/ t  u
8 h( Q, n. z- W1 u6 tAs 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.

+ c, l3 `# `; L; U& U! i; f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.
. E0 w; ~0 m& o
+ w  X! P4 h+ W' Z0 ~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.

& D% w% o& D  ^* W5 W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."

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?"
9 S0 e; c/ u4 l5 }6 y! V" i5 Y
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？」

The 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)
% L) w0 l- T- g2 @& c$ d
* M! c  D8 b8 C: ~! r7 z1 S8 q詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死

2.transition：過渡，轉變

3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
6 g* x5 p6 s6 y. `/ p
# ?  a& a9 U, M" @: u●狗老師的啟示…

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
$ Y& N& z/ F) [" f
& v2 L% F% [- {, |# }/ }, t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.
6 M! M7 H' G6 T( t
當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。
1 k5 B& `: o: U  Z9 Q1 B6 B
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
9 c0 |0 r0 q3 |  W* x
" J6 u$ R5 i! C' Z+ N  i9 R$ F% I2 C永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
5 z! D5 j2 {% J. ]" a5 L
* }3 J% j2 O5 [6 p/ UThrive on attention and let people touch you.

隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。
2 B  i% ]. J! d$ u8 I
1 n+ Z! S' B/ G  @" d) H/ a/ NWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
& K( d+ T% t* m7 x1 @5 E) V) _) m9 J
: |; {. D  z, D& V% p高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

( `% X, O: e9 Q1 IBe loyal.

忠誠。

. \$ \* {. z: P  d" f0 Y6 b9 pNever pretend to be something you're not.
" ^3 T$ d) @+ {0 o3 J
永遠不假裝。

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

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。

& b9 a: R" j3 f! L. uRead 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
  U" m$ l5 I' z/ f$ @3 G  X. g7 P