狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

http://www.worldjournal.com/view ... 9B?instance=wjengch
$ U3 e( d$ q( v. E. U0 k4 Y5 D
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

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。

# ^6 K3 M: b8 i8 d, ]  @  |9 U1 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.
4 T$ p  a( C# }# l) G
9 i! z0 h( R+ q" h4 B2 C+ lBelker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 {3 N. X( _6 P# J. d: _& }
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.

% G2 J& W: P" e" \  G) z/ 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。
/ F% U/ A, n* x* q( x8 f
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.

8 `7 m8 q% c* f: u- y1 {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。
# S* Z  F- X6 g5 a5 ^! I4 b
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.
' I; M4 ^, }5 }+ E; c
0 G; l- H7 r- W! D  c$ I' _' j+ 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。

# t# a) `, _4 Y3 Y5 Q7 BShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
* w& x1 B. m6 j, R. j, u
5 G; T1 g5 T% y7 ]0 ~3 G  L靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」
$ ~. K8 d" z3 S9 C+ J' s1 A8 Q
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?"
. y1 ~5 i0 R5 m- z9 ~8 J
4 @: A% k4 S; ?3 ~% p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？」
! C6 E0 n" _+ |, l1 g
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)
6 |* K1 X# {5 P( 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)
- z' a/ I  F1 Q# m7 ?
2 P  m& g! B2 x詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死
' x/ s7 B; O# X; k3 b! K& q
2.transition：過渡，轉變
* ^' w. |0 H4 m7 g
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
0 ^7 m. T% o  G+ K
0 m! \% X5 E5 h' h2 o: S( ?●狗老師的啟示…

3 r5 I4 M2 `- H' K3 IRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
! I  `* ~1 `( {5 q. v" O" j
記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：
4 @1 G4 T: B4 N. R0 {0 O
# n8 @& r# K) b2 @7 U8 S+ \When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
+ e; |  R1 J: T+ E8 G
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.

永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
: Y5 V7 U1 y+ U( i) I# a$ Y6 r
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。
7 {$ Z+ c! [6 k  j
7 ^! {; P2 r4 pWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
' A# h& e- B6 d
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

Be loyal.

忠誠。
5 D6 h' O/ f$ F1 I' _
Never pretend to be something you're not.

永遠不假裝。
  O) [; S5 X8 L
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。
) M+ f, S8 K" B* U9 r
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
1 r: \) L! P; z! F0 a