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.
' b% |2 {& I) E& A, d% ]0 p
7 W( K' U1 R: z; d5 B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。

; N) N5 [* w0 H! U/ c4 F5 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.
. I9 H2 \, p; R. Y$ d0 b* p2 A
1 @  Q( ~  g$ r" dBelker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。

( t; M. k3 b8 g& h& j. t9 w# iI 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.
( Y7 u6 }1 r! ^4 i
4 W' F$ C7 O2 x; G3 h/ C  W" f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。
$ {) {  X5 L" G
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.

+ B! f1 f: u; `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。
) H  T7 K. T8 x/ Z
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.

# l5 Z. H* X/ N% n; Q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。
" `$ \2 O, G, Z1 t7 s
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.
4 e7 x9 e) t7 a* D
" `; ?( j# T  o( Z" x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。
  E5 C; n! w8 r8 W5 u! U
! R" Z( E; H9 W5 \% g6 KShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

( g- J% S; n! ]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?"

- w$ z( A1 d. n* [+ h- Y+ K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)
" z/ F1 B1 Q! b$ e
2 B  y, ^( e* \& R8 M9 U& D; P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)

: ~3 q+ w4 f- R4 A% i0 D# h詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死
( N7 Y$ X, w- ~" b
2.transition：過渡，轉變
+ ^6 w) C6 S/ o9 A: Z2 x# o# u. R
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
5 Z8 e+ s3 _& d7 w/ E" U6 h: O% [; A
●狗老師的啟示…
4 o/ ?) g6 v5 Z( E/ D( t
6 s; i) H1 l9 m8 V; L1 a0 v* [Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

; _6 m0 b0 ?! k- I  P  o8 R: J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.
2 h+ E  J% ^* `5 W1 {0 @, H
* `# o. z! [$ u& C+ a4 H9 p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.

7 W+ q6 _9 V3 R" G8 z# J永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。

, R2 b) U% W) w2 k# f: o. sThrive on attention and let people touch you.
" }  G: C) e6 R; s* k# [1 T
# q2 z: f' Q+ n, h* }& K隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。
, [7 B$ \3 e& J) R
2 J! i1 t9 n) A6 U5 jWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

4 t$ h) ~/ o. Y& i高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。
0 F+ w% J: h0 C! |( L
Be loyal.

' A( q! ?$ C0 p忠誠。
* @6 D4 e5 R- @1 p
+ A) s2 U7 Z$ B9 u) @: ENever pretend to be something you're not.
5 u8 l2 F' W' I! P4 c$ S
# \& F( d" M9 L4 _" C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。
5 O. d+ x/ I5 c$ [
0 |1 t3 D% b8 U$ o3 q6 jRead 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
& V+ ~  Z$ S7 [9 C