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.
2 ?% l0 w" K  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。
" k4 l) i2 R- W" Y' G& {
+ n0 X. s) [/ g& Q; p- {* V. E& MThe 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.
" x( u% \/ V- T- [( p
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。
5 t8 {' x) \: S( ~: _
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.
/ x" A' l. K2 b1 _! ]) Q
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。
9 T" F' ]% j1 I
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.
3 |6 L8 S5 q' Z7 ]
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.
. e* p( ^% {6 c0 w% W: [. f" x- q
. S  g7 e6 Y4 o" c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。
# N3 a  o' F2 V5 R9 A
: X, [5 ^/ S" }4 ^6 NThe 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.
* a% P0 g) A. P3 R' W) ]' E
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。

7 @, A- {6 X9 ^; ~; h+ ]Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
, P& R7 Y8 C3 p. 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。」
! [: _9 l6 ~: Q( x( f
- V& J( }+ N7 u- W6 B- y4 ~, X+ qStartled, 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?"

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？」
/ Q) q- I+ F2 n0 w0 @3 y
The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)
$ t' @0 o6 W& L7 l
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)
% X, }+ C5 f/ E1 ~3 I' V
5 ]9 r1 k1 Z+ D: L詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死
. n* [  l& b' `
4 l( @# i8 Y7 Q0 Z& U5 P2.transition：過渡，轉變
0 ?+ k4 r4 s8 E- [0 C
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
1 V$ p, t  k2 O6 r. X6 J
5 I/ B  }1 N5 R$ y: p; F; P# N●狗老師的啟示…
/ }$ H: R' S3 s& G! Z2 M
' S9 ^. I" W) D/ X2 K  ]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：

: o/ O  C! X4 }7 ?) {, MWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

' \, F2 e5 W8 p7 v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.

! M4 G: T8 P, v8 h, k% H永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
8 r1 W" @* K" H4 Y2 P9 K. r
" B+ S* g% a9 Q5 d' WThrive on attention and let people touch you.
) ~) Z4 o% W3 f1 o& [; B; D: e
7 _0 j8 a" t4 a1 c/ C隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。
* A5 w0 a% d6 U0 R
8 a: {6 {0 M  ^  y" a7 WWhen you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

/ P; v. {$ W) P高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

Be loyal.
5 g+ f3 F; I: c  N
忠誠。
7 Q) L/ M) C) B6 ?9 k
Never pretend to be something you're not.
1 M3 k: x6 r; x+ ^; X. X2 F
永遠不假裝。

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
! U9 ~& r! }4 r6 q+ \. Z
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& y% P7 {* I9 ^
/ i6 P! W4 Q1 A1 ^9 _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