狗狗讓我變得更優(yōu)秀

I never had a dog. Never wanted one. As an allergy kid, my only pet was a cricket, occupying a little bamboo cage a family friend had brought from Japan. My most memorable childhood encounter with a dog was a yappy mutt next door to my elementary school that chased me around the playground and bit my leg. I've been afraid of them ever since.

我從未養(yǎng)過(guò)狗，也不想養(yǎng)。我有過(guò)敏癥，所以小時(shí)候唯一的寵物就是板球，它靜靜的躺在一位朋友從日本帶回來(lái)的小竹籠中。童年時(shí)代，小學(xué)附近的一只小狗令我記憶頗深。它經(jīng)常在操場(chǎng)上追著我，咬我的腿。自那以后，我見(jiàn)狗就怕。

In my doomed starter marriage, we were at that point when most couples get a dog as a trial balloon for kids. We could only commit to goldfish. One morning I found ours flopping on the floor half-way to the window. Making a break for it, like I would a couple of years later.

我有一段注定失敗的'閃婚'經(jīng)歷，我和前妻一度試圖養(yǎng)狗以作為養(yǎng)寶寶的前奏，畢竟大多數(shù)情侶都是這么做的。但我們最終只是養(yǎng)了金魚(yú)。一天早晨，我發(fā)現(xiàn)金魚(yú)躺在地板上，離窗戶(hù)還剩一半的距離。逃跑吧，像幾年后的我一樣。

What followed was two decades of dogless bliss. I met my current wife, Ilene, who, among other lovable qualities, was dogless. Then we moved from New York to Los Angeles, to a block infested with dogs and before long our 10-year-old, Kingsley, was yearning for one of his own.

之后，我過(guò)了20年沒(méi)有狗的幸福生活。我遇到了現(xiàn)任妻子伊琳。我覺(jué)得她最可愛(ài)的一點(diǎn)就是不養(yǎng)狗。隨后，我們從紐約搬到了洛杉磯一個(gè)滿是狗狗的街區(qū)，不久之后，10歲的兒子金斯利就想自己養(yǎng)條狗了。

 

"Imagine me frolicking in our backyard with my own puppy!" he pleaded: "One boy, one dog, one destiny..." I wanted a new kitchen floor.

"想象一下我和自家狗狗在后院開(kāi)心玩鬧的場(chǎng)景嘛!"他請(qǐng)求道，"一個(gè)小男孩兒、一只狗狗、一輩子……"我還想給廚房換新的地板呢，我暗自思忖道。

However, I became a dog person overnight. Far from being afraid of them, I take Laffy on doggie play dates and to a muddy city park where a random group of owners show up to throw balls.

然而，一夜之間我成了愛(ài)狗人士。我再也不怕狗了，而且還養(yǎng)了一只叫做"拉菲"的狗狗。我會(huì)帶它去泥濘的城市公園和一群養(yǎng)狗人士聚在一起，陪它玩扔球的游戲。

Not random, actually. A community. That I was now a part of. That made me happy.

這并非隨心所欲，這是一個(gè)團(tuán)體。我現(xiàn)在就是其中的一份子，我很高興。

In my toxic-bachelor days, my nickname was "Mr. Warmth," but I didn't realize how closed off I still was, even as a happily-married family guy. Like, I used to talk to my neighbors when and if I had to. Now I stop them in the street - if they're holding a leash. Because Laffy wants to be pals with everyone.

在往事不堪回首的單身歲月中，我的外號(hào)是"暖男"，但我并沒(méi)有意識(shí)到我的封閉程度，甚至在結(jié)婚之后(幸福美滿)，我都沒(méi)有意識(shí)到這一點(diǎn)。比如，我只有在必要的時(shí)候才會(huì)和鄰居聊聊天。現(xiàn)在，如果我在街道上看到他們拿著狗繩，我就會(huì)走過(guò)去和他們閑聊幾句。因?yàn)槔葡矚g和所有人交朋友!

When he let me into his big heart, he got me to open up mine. Ilene said, "It took a dog to make you human." As usual, she's right. Would it be crazy to get two?

狗狗讓我'住'進(jìn)了它的內(nèi)心，它讓我變得更為開(kāi)放。伊琳說(shuō)："狗狗讓你更有人情味兒了。"如往常一樣，她說(shuō)對(duì)了。現(xiàn)在我還想再養(yǎng)一只，是不是太瘋狂了?