Soon after this, I felt a lump. I went to my doctors, and after X rays, tests and lab work were done, they told me I had cancer.
When cancer starts, for an unknown reason, a wall of calcium builds. Then the lump or cancer attaches itself to this wall. When Cocoa jumped on me, the force of the impact broke the lump away from the calcium wall. This made it possible for me to notice the lump. Before that, I couldn’t see it or feel it, so there was no way for me to know it was there.
I had a complete mastectomy and the cancer has not spread to any other part of my body. The doctors told me if the cancer had gone undetected even six more months, it would have been too late.
Was Cocoa aware of just what he was doing? I’ll never really know. What I do know is that I'm glad I made a promise to spend my golden years with this wonderful chocolate brown poodle--for Cocoa not only shares his life with me; he has made sure that I will be around to share my life with him!
我和我最好的朋友科科住在一座可爱小城的老年公民公寓里。科科是头10岁的卷毛狗，而我是个69岁的女人，所以我们俩都够格当老年公民。
多年前，我就决意，退休时要找条巧克力色的卷毛狗与我共度美好的晚年。从一开始，科科就表现得十分听话，什么事我说一遍就行。科科经过三天训练后就养成了家居卫生的习惯，而且从没有干过淘气的事。它特别爱整洁——从盒子里拿出玩具玩毕之后，总是再放回原处。有人说我过分爱整洁，可我有时想那狗是在学我样呢，还是它生来也是如此。
科科是出色的伴侣。我扔出球，它就用嘴叼起后扔给我。我们有时候玩一种我小时候玩的游戏——可这我从来没跟狗玩过。它把爪子放在我一只手上，我用另一只手盖在它爪子上，它把爪子放在上面，我再抽出最下面的手放在最上面，就这样继续着。科科有许多有趣的动作令我发笑。它见我笑，它就高兴地继续做那个动作。我十分喜欢有它这样的伴儿。
但是大约两年前，科科做了件无法理解的事。这是奇迹，还是巧合？至今还是个谜。
有一天下午，科科开始行动反常。我坐在地上逗它玩，它开始用爪子挠，还不断地闻我胸部右侧。以前它从来没有这样过。我告诉它：“不要这样。”通常说一遍“不”就足够了，可是那天不行。它停顿片刻，然后突然从屋子的另一端朝我奔来，把全身18磅的重量压在我胸部右侧。科科猛撞了我，疼得我哇哇直叫。我想不该有这么痛。
此后不久，我感到有个肿块。我去看了医生，做了X光透视、各种检查和化验。他们告诉我说，我得了癌症。
癌症开始时，不知什么原因，出现一层钙壁。然后肿块或癌就附着在那钙壁上。科科跳在我身上时，冲击力把肿块从钙壁上分离开，这样使我才有可能注意到肿块。在这之前，我无法看见也感觉不到肿块，因而也就无从知道肿块的存在。
我做了彻底的切割手术，癌细胞还没有扩散到身体其他部位。医生告诉我，要是再有半年还没发现癌症的话，就为时过晚了。
科科意识到它做的事情了吗？我永远也得不到答案。可我知道，我很高兴当时我许愿要和这只杰出的巧克力色卷毛狗共度晚年，因为科科不仅与我分享它的生命，而且确实做到使我能健康地活着与它分享我的生命。
Romantic—Paris浪漫之都——巴黎
Ah, beautiful Paris. For centuries this city has attracted the admiration of the world. The allure and charm of Paris captivate all who visit there.
Where can you discover the charm of Paris for yourself? Is it in the legacy of all the French rulers who worked to beautify their beloved city? Is it in the famous castles, palaces, statues and monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower? Can you find it in the world-class museums, such as the Louvre? Perhaps Paris’ allure lies in the zest and style of the Parisians.
When you visit Paris, you don't have to spend all of your time visiting museums and monuments. They are certainly worthy of your time, but ignore them for a day. First take some time to look around and experience life in Paris. You’ll find it charming.
Take a stroll along the Seine River. Browse through the art vendors, colorful paintings. Peek through delicate iron gates at the well-kept gardens. Watch closely for the French attention to detail that has made France synonymous with good taste. You will see it in the design of a doorway or arch and in the little fountains and quaint balconies. No matter where you look, you will find everyday objects transformed into works by art.
Spend some time in a quiet park relaxing on an old bench. Lie on your back on the green grass. When you need refreshment, try coffee and pastries at a sidewalk cafe. Strike up a conversation with a Parisian. This isn’t always easy, though. With such a large international population living in Paris, true natives are hard to find these days.
As evening comes to Paris, enchantment rises with the mist over the riverfront. You may hear music from an outdoor concert nearby: classical, jazz, opera or chansons, those French folk songs. Parisians love their music. The starry sky is their auditorium. You can also hear concerts in the chateaux and cathedrals. In Paris the Music never ends.
Don’t miss the highlight of Paris evening: eating out. Parisians are proud of their cuisine. And rightly so; it’s world famous. Gourmet dining is one of the indispensable joys of living. You need a special guidebook to help you choose one of the hundreds of excellent restaurants. The capital of France boasts every regional specialty, cheese and wine the country has to offer. If you don't know what to order, ask for the suggested menu. The chef likes to showcase his best dishes there. Remember, you haven’t tasted the true flavor of France until you’ve dined at a French restaurant in Paris.
After your gourmet dinner, take a walking tour of the floodlit monuments. Cross the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in the city, to the Ile de la Cite. The most famous landmark of Paris looms up in front of you the Notre Dame Cathedral (Cathedral of Our Lady)。
Stand in the square in front of the cathedral. Here, you are standing in the center of France. All distances are measured from the front of Notre Dame. Every road in France leads to her front door. All French kings and leaders have journeyed here to commemorate important occasions and give thanks. Notre Dame is the heart of Paris and the heart of France.
Your visit in Paris has only just begun. You’ve just started to discover the charm of this old city. May the rest of your journey be unforgettable? When it is time to leave, you will go reluctantly. You will say with the French, “A bientot, Paris, a bientot!” (See you again soon, Paris!)
啊，美丽的巴黎！几个世纪以来，这个城市吸引了整个世界的崇拜。巴黎的诱惑与魅力吸引了所有到此游玩的人。
你在哪里可以找到巴黎对你自己的吸引力呢？是否是在历任的法国统治者们在美化他所钟爱的城市所留下來的遗产里？还是在那些有名的城堡、皇宫雕像和纪念碑例如艾菲尔铁塔之中？你能否在世界一流的博物馆，例如卢浮宫中找着呢？或许巴黎的诱惑力在于巴黎人的特殊品味和风格。
当你到巴黎游玩时，別把时间全都花在看博物馆和纪念碑上面。它们当然很值得你花时间，但今天先忘掉它们。首先来四处看看，并体验一下巴黎的生活。你会发现它的迷人之处。
沿著塞纳河漫步。浏览艺术家们色彩丰富的绘画，透过那些精致的铁门，向內偷窥那些精心照看的花园。仔细留心法国人对于细节的留心。这使得法国成为“好品味”同义字。你可以在门廊或拱门以及小喷泉和古怪有趣的走廊的设计上看见。不管你往哪里看，你都可以发现日常物品已经变成了艺术品。
