By Karen Dawn
Neighbors ask if I will adopt turkeys again this Thanksgiving。I am not sure。I think of last year's turkeys lined up at the front gate with the dogs，greeting sunset passersby on their way to the Via bluffs。I think of Buster's patience when the turkey named Bruce，later renamed Brucilla，usurped Buster's bed on the porch。Mostly I think that this year Buster will not be here to guard the turkeys。This will be the first holiday season in twelve years without Buster Dawn。
Buster came to me in November 1997，a tiny puppy from the pound。I didn't know then that I should have adopted an older dog because puppies always get homes and because I liked my rugs，furniture and shoe collection。When I picked up Buster he looked into my eyes and started to lick my face。You can see from my favorite photo that twelve years later nothing had changed。For those twelve years my skin care regime centered on Buster's daily exfoliation treatment。What will become of my complexion now that he is gone？
On our first Thanksgiving together I carried Buster to a friend's house in a shoebox。The rescue folks had told me he would grow to about 35 pounds。Ha！Cafe Vida regulars may remember often seeing a mutt poised across a man's lap。That was Buster Dawn，with Jim，my ex。
Buster and I took our first walk together on Christmas。I strolled the Soho streets with my beautiful puppy，awed that for once I was not walking alone。A few weeks later we wandered over to the Village and I called my friend Eric to tell him to come down and grab a coffee as we were right on his corner。His response，“Oh Karen，I just love that you are a‘we'now。’”
Yes，Buster changed me to we。Nights in my apartment watching television had always been so lonely；with Buster they were cozy and fun。And I think Buster opened my heart and made it possible for Jim to enter a year later。The day Jim and I first met，for lunch，he dropped me back at my apartment and met Buster and also Paula，Buster's newly adopted sister。Buster immediately suggested a ball game，and Jim obliged。When Jim picked me up for dinner that night I was running late and asked if he would mind waiting in the book store across the street。He said，“Sure。Or do the dogs need walking？”My heart almost burst，I had found my canine kids a wonderful daddy。Buster led Jim on our usual walk around Soho。Soon we all moved to Pacific Palisades and became a family。
We were a close family。Jim insisted that we never take family holidays anywhere we couldn't take the dogs。Once he had heard Buster's fantastic rendition of Happy Birthday he couldn't bear a birthday without it。Buster had quite a voice；what he lacked in tone he made up for in gusto。
Thanksgivings were spent at home。I would cook for days and then invite vegan friends over to share the feast-plenty of Wild Turkey（bourbon）and veganized versions of classic dishes。Buster loved sweet potatoes。I once made the mistake of leaving a bowl of them on the lower shelf of our serving trolley where Buster clearly thought they had been left for him。Thank heavens my guests were all animal lovers who cackled when they saw Buster swigging back our sweet potatoes。They were happy to dig into the dish once I had skimmed Buster's personal gravy off the top。
One Christmas we drove to Mexico and rented a guest house。Its front patio，and that of another patio leading to the main house，was attached to a mutual landing that had stairs down to the street。In the main house，Chumaka and Amiga，a rottie mix and a coyote mix，lived with their humans。As we brought stuff up from the car into our Christmas abode，Chumaka and Amiga guarded the landing like customs officers inspecting imports。Everything passed their muster but for Paula and Buster。The canine guards at first refused to let our guys past the landing。But Buster somehow slipped past the sentinels into our guest house。A moment later he emerged carrying a new dog toy that Jim had put under the Christmas tree。He slunk out onto the mutual landing，darted over to Chumaka and Amiga's patio，dropped the toy，and darted back。Chumaka and Amiga gave up their post to check out the peace offering。For the next week we were a pack of six。Walks to the beach involved all four dogs the peacemaking mutt，the rottie mix，the coyote mix，and the pitbull。Nobody fracked with us！
Paula recently reminded me of that sweet gift giving gesture。Though she had lost interest in Buster as he weakened over the last few months，her grief in the days after we let her explore his lifeless body was undeniable。After we placed him in his grave，she lay beside it for hours with her paws hanging over。She brought up a toy and dropped it in on top of him。Unsure the move had been intentional，I gave it back to her。She dropped it in again。We buried her sweet offering with our sweet boy。
I have never loved anybody the way I loved Buster。Some might say that because human relationships are hard I had settled for a lesser relationship with a dog。But was it lesser？Who has a human who howls down the house whenever they get home from work？And what human could make my heart sing just by walking into the room，every time，no matter how many times a day？The intellectual conversations about books and films that a human might offer and not all do cannot outweigh the joyful camaraderie of walks along the bluffs，the trusting head on my lap when I curled up with a good book，or the simple and silent companionship Buster would offer as he supervised my holiday preparations。
What a strange holiday season this will be without Buster Dawn。He was the heart of our little family。When Jim or I were out of the house，Buster would wait all night in the front yard until the missing pack member was back safe in our cave。Jim moved out just after last year's holidays，and now，without Buster，there is really no family at all。Yet，oddly，I am dreading the holidays less than I had expected。Buster's love changed me，and it will be there this season even without the loving licks and the heavenly howls that were its physical signs。Buster opened my heart，and it did not close when he passed。Though our little family is no longer，I know there will one day be more love in my life，and more holidays with family。That will be Buster's legacy。
邻居们都问我这个感恩节还会不会领养火鸡了。我说不准。我想起去年感恩节的时候，那些火鸡和狗排成一行，都站在前门，向黄昏时节的过往者致意。人们都是去威盛灌木丛林玩的。我想起去年感恩节的时候，巴斯特表现出来的坚忍。当时，有一只火鸡，硬生生地霸占了巴斯特在门廊上的床。我原来叫那只火鸡布鲁斯，后来又给他改了个名字叫布鲁西亚。我想得最多的就是今年巴斯特再也不会出现在这里，来保护这些火鸡了。12年了，这是第一次在过感恩节的时候没有巴斯特。
巴斯特是1997年11月来到我身边的。那时他还是一只小小的幼年狗，是我在狗栏领养的。当时并没有想过，其实我应该领养一只年龄稍大一点的狗。原因是幼犬总是会很快有家庭来领养。还有，因为我太爱惜我的小地毯、我的家具和我的那些鞋子。办好手续以后，我抱起巴斯特，他盯着我看了一会儿，然后就开始舔我的脸。你可以翻看我整理过的最喜欢的照片集，看过就会知道，12年时间之久，一切依旧。12年里，我面部皮肤的护理、保养都主要依靠巴斯特。他每天舔我的脸，这样就能够去除我脸上的死皮，使我的脸清爽柔滑。每天如此。现在，巴斯特不在了，我的脸会变成什么样子？
第一次和巴斯特一起过感恩节，我把他装在鞋盒里带到一个朋友家。当时在狗栏办领养手续的时候，那里的救护人员告诉我，巴斯特体重会达到35磅。哈！经常光顾维达咖啡馆的人也许会记得，在那里见过一只狗，悠闲自得地坐在一个男人的双腿上。那就是巴斯特，和吉姆一起。吉姆是我的前夫。
圣诞节的时候，我第一次和巴斯特一起出去散步。漫步在索和区街头，身后跟着我漂亮的狗狗，我曾一度感叹，太好了，我终于不是一个人在散步。几个星期过后，我们又一起出去，信步走到格林尼治村。于是，我打电话给朋友艾里克，告诉他我们就在他住的地方的街角，请他下来一块喝杯咖啡。他的反应是：“哦，太好了，卡伦，你现在变成‘我们’了。”
是啊，因为有了巴斯特，我不再是单独的我，而是我们。多少个夜晚，呆在公寓里看电视，心里觉得是那么地孤独。有了巴斯特，还是晚上在家里看电视，可是这样的夜晚变得那么惬意、那么有趣。而且，我想是巴斯特打开了我的心扉，所以，一年以后，我才有可能接受吉姆。第一次约会，吉姆和我一块吃了顿午饭。当天，他把我送回家，在家里见到巴斯特和鲍拉。鲍拉是我新近领养的狗，巴斯特的妹妹。一看见吉姆，巴斯特就要和他玩球。吉姆答应了巴斯特的请求，和他一起玩得很愉快。那天晚上，吉姆来接我吃晚饭。我却有事被耽搁住了，就问他，是否介意到街对面的那个书店里等我一会儿。他说：“没问题。或者我带狗出去遛一会儿，好吗？”我心里真是乐开了花——我为我的狗狗找了一个这么好的爸爸！巴斯特带着吉姆，在索和区周围逛来逛去，走的都是我们俩经常走的路。很快，我们全都搬到太平洋宝马山地区，组成了一个家。
我们这个家，关系非常密切。吉姆坚持说如果不能带着狗一块度假，我们宁愿哪里都不去。吉姆有一次过生日，听见巴斯特用汪汪声演绎的《生日快乐歌》，觉得不可思议地美妙。从此以后，吉姆就再也忘不掉，每一次过生日，都要巴斯特唱。巴斯特的声音洪亮、高昂。声调虽说不那么婉转回旋，却充满热情，让人难以拒绝。
感恩节总是在家里过的。我会一连好几天忙着做饭，还邀请只吃素食的朋友来一起分享我做的饭菜。我准备的有好多威特基（波旁威士忌！），还有经典菜式的素食版。巴斯特喜欢吃甜甜的马铃薯。有一次，我犯了一个错误，把一碗马铃薯放在食品推车下面的那一层上。巴斯特看见了，觉得那就是专门留给他吃的。谢天谢地，我的朋友都是热爱动物的人。发现巴斯特在大口大口地吃我们准备的甜土豆，他们都忍不住咯咯地笑出声来。后来，我把上面巴斯特吃过的部分清除掉，端上餐桌，他们都开心地大吃起来。
圣诞节的时候，我们开车到了墨西哥，还租了家庭旅馆住下。这家旅馆前面有一个露台。另外还有一个露台，可以通到旅馆的正屋。这两个露台，都和一个公用的楼梯平台连在一起，从那里可以沿着台阶一直走到大街上。在正屋里面住着两只狗丘马可、阿米加，和他们的主人。丘马可是一只罗威纳犬混种狗，阿米加则是一只丛林狼混种狗。我们把行李从车上取出来，准备往租住的屋子里搬的时候，丘马可和阿米加一脸严肃地守在公用的平台上，就像是海关官员在检查进口的货品。除鲍拉和巴斯特以外，所有的人、物，都通过了他们的审查。两条看门狗一开始不让我们从公用的平台上去。但是，巴斯特不知怎的偷偷地躲过两个狗卫兵，进了我们的旅馆。过了一会儿，他回来了，嘴里叼着一个新买的玩具狗。玩具狗是吉姆买来后放在圣诞树下面的。巴斯特先悄悄地上了公用平台，然后一下子窜到丘马可和阿米加面前，把玩具一扔，又飞奔回来。丘马可和阿米加不再坚守岗位，过去接受了这位求和使者献上的贡物。以后的那一周里，我们变成了一行6个。每一次去海滩上玩，我们都带着这四条狗，一个不少：和平使者狗巴斯特、罗威纳犬混种狗、丛林狼混种狗、还有斗牛犬。没有人不朝我们投来羡慕的目光！
近来，鲍拉提示我，让我想起那温暖人心的送礼物的传统。在过去的几个月里，巴斯特因为变得衰老、无力，鲍拉不再对他感兴趣，不再喜欢和他一起玩耍。但是，在我们让她看过巴斯特的尸体以后，她却非常悲伤。她的悲伤谁都可以看得见，谁都相信是真切的。我们把巴斯特放在坟墓里，鲍拉躺在他身边，举起爪子，一连几个小时，都是如此。后来，她叼过来一个玩具，丢到坟墓里巴斯特的身上。我拿不准鲍拉到底是不是有意要把玩具送给巴斯特的，所以就把玩具拿出来还给她。她又把玩具丢进巴斯特的坟墓。最后，我们把她的贴心礼物和我们的乖儿子一起埋掉了。
我爱巴斯特，从来没有像爱巴斯特那样爱过别人。有些人会说，人与人之间太复杂，很难做到真心对真心，所以我退而求其次，和一只狗建立了深厚的感情。但是，人和狗之间的关系就真的低一等吗？谁曾经拥有过这样一个伙伴呢？当他们下班回到家，这个伙伴会高兴得在屋里大叫？还有，哪个人有这样的能力，每次只要一走进我的房间，我马上就会心花怒放？而且，无论这人每天多少次走进我房间，我都会同样地高兴？和别人在一起谈天论地，探讨书里、电影里那些主题，那些人可以付出什么（当然并不是所有人都愿意付出）的主题，又能怎么样呢？即便这样的谈话多么地充满智慧，也比不上和狗一起散步时的亲密、快乐。我和狗曾无数次亲密、快乐地沿着灌木丛散步。即便这样的谈话多么地充满智慧，也比不上和狗一起呆着的时候互相信任、依赖。我总是蜷曲着，手里拿着一本好书，狗的头放在我腿上，我们依偎在一起。即便这样的谈话多么地充满智慧，也不如巴斯特简单、安静地陪着我。当他检查我是不是做好旅行的准备的时候，他总是这样。
这个感恩节，没有了巴斯特，该会有多么陌生啊。他就是我们这个小小的家的支撑。吉姆和我不在家的时候，巴斯特总会在前院一直等，哪怕等一晚上，也要等到我们这两个失踪分子安全地回到老巢。去年感恩节过后，吉姆就从家里搬出去住了。现在，又没有了巴斯特，实际上，这个家已经不是家了。可是，真奇怪，我没有像设想的那样害怕过节。是巴斯特的爱改变了我。他的爱还在，即使这个节日再不会有他亲切地舔我的脸，即使再不会听见他天籁般的叫声，即使没有了这些表明他存在的实实在在的东西，我一样能体会到他的爱还在。巴斯特打开了我的心扉，即使他不在了，我的心扉也没有再关上。虽然我们的小家不复存在，我知道将来有一天我的生命里会有更多的爱，我也会和家里人一起过更多的节日。这就是巴斯特留给我的宝贝。
鹦鹉学舌
Karen Dawn凯伦·潼恩
凯伦·潼恩出生于美国，在澳大利亚长大，并在那里上学。她做过新闻研究员，还为多个澳大利亚出版机构撰写文章。1998年，她读了《动物解放》一书，受到极大地触动，于是投身于帮助动物、维护动物权利的工作中。凯伦创立了一个网站，DawnWatch。com，倡导动物权利，呼吁媒体监督社会对待动物的方式。作为动物权利运动的代言人，她出现在所有重要的新闻网和音乐电视频道上，并且在大的广播站主持多期脱口秀节目。她还有文章在《洛杉矶时报》、《华盛顿邮报》和英国的《卫报》等知名报刊上发表。她的第一本书Thanking the Monkey：Rethingking the Way We Treat Animals（《感谢猴子：再思考我们对待动物的方式》），被《华盛顿邮报》选为“2008年最佳图书”。
莺声燕语
Background Knowledge
Thanksgiving Day 感恩节
1620年，102名清教徒乘坐“五月花号”船，到达美国的普利茅斯港，准备开始新的生活。但是，冬天他们遇到了难以想像的困难，处在饥寒交迫之中。冬天过后，活下来的移民只剩50来人。印第安人给这些移民送来了生活必需品，并且教他们狩猎、捕鱼和种植玉米、南瓜等植物，教会他们在这块土地上的生存方法。在印第安人的帮助下，移民们获得了大丰收。在欢庆丰收的日子，欧陆新移民请来印第安人共享玉米、南瓜、火鸡等制作成的佳肴，和印第安人一同感谢上天的赐予。这就是感恩节的由来。
牛角挂书
New Words
usurp vt。篡夺，强夺；侵占；盗用vi。篡夺；侵占；侵犯
exfoliation n。剥落；剥落物；表皮脱落
swig vt。痛饮，豪饮
例句：Don't swig beer the way you drink water。别像水似的把啤酒一口喝干。
vi。大喝，痛饮，大口大口地喝
例句：to swig in one drink一饮而尽
camaraderie n。[法语]同志间友情，同志情谊
rendition n。演奏，解释
gusto n。热情，乐趣，津津有味
cackle n。咯咯声，高声笑，饶舌，闲谈vi。咯咯叫，咯咯笑，喋喋不休
muster n。集中；集合，集合的人群vt。&；vi。集合，召集
T
猴老师有话说
est Yourself
1.Multiple Choice Questions
1）They were happy……once I had skimmed Buster's personal gravy off the top。
A。略读B。浏览
C。撇去……的浮物D。盖上一薄层
2）They were happy to dig into the dish once……personal gravy off the top。
A。挖到……里面去B。把……戳进，把……刺入
C。探究，细查D。专心致志地干；起劲地干
3）As we brought stuff up from the car into our Christmas abode……
A。材料B。物品
C。食品D。行李；装备
4）Cafe Vida regulars may remember often seeing a mutt poised across a man's lap。
A。平衡的B。悬着
C。镇定的；镇静的D。做好准备的
5）I called my friend Eric to tell him to come down and grab a coffee as we ……his corner。
A。匆忙地做；赶B。攫取，抓取
C。抢得；赚得D。强烈吸引
6）Buster immediately suggested a ball game，and Jim obliged。
A。使感激B。强迫；迫使
C。使……成为必要D。答应（某人）的请求
7）Everything passed their muster but for Paula and Buster。
A。集会B。花名册；清单
C。人员总数D。检阅
2.下面是关于voice 的一些短语，写出其含义。
1）a voice in the wilderness
2）give one's voice for
3）give voice to
4）have a voice in something
5）have no voice in something
6）lift up one's voice
7）lose one's voice
8）lower one's voice
9）the voice of God
10）with one voice
Keys：
1.1）C2）D3）D4）C5）A6）D7）D
2.1）a。“圣经”旷野里的呼声b。无人理睬的改革者
2）投票赞成，对……表示赞同
3）表达，说出，吐露
4）对某事有发言权
5）无权过问，对某事无发言权
6）a。高声叫喊b。大声疾呼；抗议；抱怨
7）说不出话来，嗓子哑了
8）压低嗓门
9）上帝的呼声（指上帝的意旨或神怒）
10）异口同声地
