狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

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

0 F+ a& W  g% x+ jBeing 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。

- k) z3 W5 }* u5 ~( c6 n  h# {" RThe 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.

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。

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。

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.
# n, Z+ f; I6 X. W4 Y7 y% r
8 N5 \2 [3 g$ u% C1 K: Q2 J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.

7 d8 [& `; b1 _! u. i# Y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。
4 p7 G2 O2 {+ ^' X3 U0 u
+ O' L. K! Z! u0 ~# D7 i9 j& eThe 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.
/ r* v; D+ C9 P7 n5 {! N. B. V
$ \2 }0 m' h& h' f, }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."
9 z# M6 {- H! u$ B+ r# G
) z0 ]9 u2 E/ w; ]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?"

1 _- S, s( O0 }4 G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？」
% ?) H; g( O; @/ F/ F& i+ x
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)
. h$ W, @5 |# I
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)

詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死
) V  C6 N0 }# K1 p
5 s/ f( P7 U5 ]  ?) L2.transition：過渡，轉變
. T4 g4 _& [0 W* l3 I
& C3 n/ t; L( v* d% Y; q9 }* j3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
% Z7 Q8 F$ t; Z8 ]' m
●狗老師的啟示…
/ D& p- b# C* A4 l, O. u& ?
+ I8 T, K4 J) `7 FRemember, 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：

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。
3 ~, A+ t4 }5 n- ~
- t4 o* B9 C0 k) {' jNever pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
: y. X8 u, `' f5 t4 L
! F- g8 |( F% g4 z& b2 J1 i0 j永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
. ^1 Z$ B& n" d" h6 ~
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

$ d' m3 a6 |$ G/ j1 H隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。

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。
2 P: m1 N/ m* f: A
: v) j! t6 m3 IBe loyal.

忠誠。

: H7 ]) o: [6 ~1 XNever pretend to be something you're not.

& s& x. u5 |3 ?" r永遠不假裝。

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

3 h$ b/ {0 Q) p7 Q* M, a. P7 O4 S: d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。
0 {1 p# m% H5 h' u  k  K/ {  T
1 o3 s2 S- ^* h/ L, DRead 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