狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

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

" r& W# u$ u. v' x! {, HBeing a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

- f4 s9 H7 x0 W# Q# M6 E. \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。
2 q# _, H& T0 [5 ]+ c8 R
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.
+ z: r9 E0 U2 R
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.

6 l) O: a( W) u* k+ I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。
: I9 s+ N. v; A. ^8 w/ ?; d
* `5 o3 E0 O- n  O' g* Z$ Z' AAs 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.

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。
  v' R$ x9 L2 y0 |% B
$ d) ^8 X- a9 RThe 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.
. J# J# D+ b- |" @* a3 t
, T# I  f" z- R: H" r( V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。

8 v+ ?0 R( B3 h  ]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.
+ }; |' E. _/ F! F$ W+ U+ \
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。
( m. S; s  Z& H  |
3 Z# ]) d# D$ X2 Z- G0 t0 SShane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
/ `7 J! ]/ D& `9 T3 T  p
靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」
6 C0 Y% y' M7 @! C& u8 g" K
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?"
# @8 w4 @  q4 _" u0 D1 B3 R
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)

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# B* R# V$ r# j
詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死
, y) L0 V+ N2 m7 u2 o; ~( q
& y) g! V) M3 D6 E7 Z+ o, ~2.transition：過渡，轉變
* ?7 o* c  a& I" F
3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
7 z+ m" _* N* u' [, L' J
●狗老師的啟示…
( ]& B( D4 p% u3 j" z4 [7 t
5 I$ I# \; C1 m: a4 d' [' g9 k1 bRemember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
  |: r; @8 |3 n9 ]" U( C
; c+ q5 N1 k3 v1 u* A* e$ z記住，如果狗狗曾經是位老師，你會學到這些東西：
' h' f# _9 |0 f/ y
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

9 _; m& x. [- K7 R( S8 g當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。
+ q' e4 F, N, o* n; r
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
6 t. i: R6 K8 ^. T* W* n
永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
( h8 L9 a3 H* D) V
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
! g" ~# |% o4 a* c7 |
隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
& i& S4 b; ^; }. V' L+ }% G
高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。

Be loyal.

忠誠。

4 T- ?; e* b4 ?+ ^- _Never pretend to be something you're not.

永遠不假裝。

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
, z' `# E; t) ?! Q# |$ 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。
) U$ J) C. L& y  b
5 W2 K! n& F) X3 M; IRead 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
, Z8 x$ a! S, e4 n( _2 {