狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

http://www.worldjournal.com/view ... 9B?instance=wjengch
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3 M% f+ n: S5 r0 n) @' ABeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

2 x3 ?, n2 v8 o( m( h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。
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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.

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。

4 W' r- _9 I9 \$ N  qI 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.
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4 j0 y6 M. D& V' L1 z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。
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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.

8 S- p# s3 K* L4 V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。
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2 m3 t5 r1 T7 p, s) v$ N5 i7 KThe 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.

* m; `& T. r, i( C. f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。
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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.

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。

) B; H4 s4 k# `: ZShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

4 P+ c; J1 }! J' ~' Q4 m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?"

% `. O% O" u  K; s% j2 S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)
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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)

2 a, J& l  H$ e# e6 T* D* X5 l8 a( d4 I詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死

2.transition：過渡，轉變
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3 q' g# e5 Q0 k: p% }. @/ q% ?4 t3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出

7 |2 U' B9 y1 y●狗老師的啟示…
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Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
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記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：

0 Q/ d" _; e0 z2 L$ G2 aWhen loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
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( Y! Z, O3 q  V% S! W, X當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。
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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
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永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

4 I+ W' m) c2 [8 x+ D隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
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  r  S6 c) D" T  G高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。
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" k  |* h& J' e- h0 fBe loyal.

忠誠。
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  E4 O) k2 o# w+ g2 sNever pretend to be something you're not.

0 I. Y" Y# I& w" _0 Z8 ]9 K永遠不假裝。

: R5 R, K( c5 g, {$ W$ E3 bWhen 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。
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