狗狗天生知道如何愛

lingoma

http://www.worldjournal.com/view ... 9B?instance=wjengch
/ p% j; ]" D7 d: i3 u. e9 a( g
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker.

* b! \/ T1 [' q4 b  k+ ~5 Y: V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- y$ E& U2 c4 D: Y: v
( K2 G' ]# Y# G* z/ X. b4 _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。
+ B0 R& V% w+ m& W  ~+ d  P* Y  J
+ j# r) Z2 r6 l$ ]: LI 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。
$ R0 J& m$ [# i# n9 a9 H* w# b
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.

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.

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。
+ G1 b8 z3 A, D- n8 p: `7 Z
1 [" G' r* n. N; m. K, b: |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.

; ~8 k: T5 X- 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。

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
! z# Y- P1 @3 `  E3 B  J$ k: G
/ i. R" h- h6 v) S; J$ c  o靜靜地聽著我們談話的西恩，忽然冒出一句：「我知道為什麼。」
) @3 p( ~+ K; p0 M# b. t" Z
3 k% v- [6 T$ K5 ZStartled, 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?"

; \* K8 X$ U5 b0 v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？」

1 y, h: R2 H" Q; A% u2 IThe six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."(allone.com)

4 b+ P$ o& @/ m  k% y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)
6 M. x! _  C( H& a) @- q' N
5 E1 T: z& Q9 S" b% C9 Y: t詞解：1.euthanasia：安樂死

3 O+ l0 m$ e8 l# G' x) G2.transition：過渡，轉變
9 }7 F! J$ {/ V" k( s, }% x/ V& o8 K
7 @! `9 C0 v$ v$ J, v% v& V3.pipe up：尖聲的說，脫口而出
2 P, i# R/ @4 a- L  l: }
# d' P; z. ~  E# J% h8 Z●狗老師的啟示…

+ q0 _" S) l, q7 O3 pRemember, 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.
! U- r( c) `# N6 J# q0 n
當心愛的人回家了，永遠跑上前熱情地迎接他們。
1 @1 t' V+ L, D/ z9 O* A" m$ P( u
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

8 k) W. t$ h5 q/ b永遠不要錯過能夠出去玩兒的機會。
/ s3 U+ v# G& o/ @
  T0 x  `$ O$ ]* C4 u# j9 {; o$ m% jThrive on attention and let people touch you.
  @& s/ K: z+ v5 N
9 o- w/ w- W% E- q( P. K隨時尋求關注並讓人們撫摸。

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

: O' P+ y, f' {: X, b8 t高興的時候，跳舞並搖動整個身體。
$ I4 b5 m( _8 F
Be loyal.
3 |& Z$ U- `, o  |) p+ B/ q+ p
忠誠。

Never pretend to be something you're not.

3 ?. @/ H, _# R2 S) _7 v永遠不假裝。
$ b8 Z7 y: ~: `' c
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
' T* t9 E5 n9 _# }  H
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。

) d7 ~/ ?$ ^: n  m6 e7 I" rRead 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