Interpreters human beings or alien life form?

Wow. I just took my dog for a long walk. Big deal I hear you say, it is, this is the first time in 2 months. The October before I came here I finished a half marathon. Hey, look at this, this fat ole woman says she finished a 13 mile race. I did. I was lastest, I knew the ambulance driver by name & I held up the award ceremony, but I did it. I had one really bad mile.

That is where I have been folks, February was my 1 really bad mile.

My dad used to drink hard. No matter how he felt he never missed a shifts work unless there was a funeral or we were in the hospital. In fact my dad never missed an opportunity to "double back" which means he worked 2 shifts back to back. He told me why he did that, so his kids could have it better than he did. I share his work ethic. I have had surgery and went back to work the next day. I did not know my ass from my elbow and I worked in health care with patients, I did not miss work under any circumstances.

The woman I work with now made the comment to me that I needed to get it together because she needed a "warm body with a pulse" to be there in the evenings. That is insulting. I have 9 years experience, had my own business and my first year out of massage school I took 60 hours of CEUs. We were required to have 24. I have been all over the east coast and to Thailand to take classes.

I do not want to be the interpreter who is a "warm body with a pulse." I gave this program 100% effort. Where my skills are right now is all the ability that I have. Last year not only did I not miss one class I was never late and I paid a tutor. I slept with the Gallaudet Dictionary. I do not feel any guilt, I have great teachers. All I can give is what I have.

But, I learned a hard lesson. Health comes first. For the first time in my 45 years on this earth I could not stand up. Feb. 13 I spent the night in my floor, because I could not get up. I made it to the doctor somehow and they gave me a shot in the butt that was supposed to make me better. I woke up and it was like a mule kicked me. I laid there and could not get up. You do not want me to paint you a picture. When I did get up I took my blankets and sheets and threw them away I did not wash them. When I missed class that week I was not shopping on QVC, I thought I was going to DIE.

I know that we are a Deaf persons only mode of communication and that it is very important. But, would you want me to interpret for your mom if I was coughing so hard that pee was running down my leg? If you have the flu and you go to a kindergarten class or an assisted living home with elderly people are you really doing your job? When you go back and you find out that Fred is dead because he got the flu? Did you give it to him? Maybe you did, maybe you didn't, but ethically should you have been there?

I missed a class yesterday because I was in pain. Do I care that I missed 25 points. No, I do not. I made a decison about my health. If I get run down again, I may miss my practicum, which is more important? I miss one class so I can get some much needed rest or I go and risk, laying in my own poop again? Its a no brainer.

They keep telling us that intrepeters are people. After this weekend I am not so sure. Most professionals do not eat their young.

I went to both workshops and gave all I had. What more can I do? We are people we have kids, husbands (did I pay enough attention to my husband last year, I guess not.) We are stressed to the max, giving it all. There comes a point when you have to say you know what. STOP.

I made it through this bad mile, but I will tell you this. I will NEVER under any circumstances, F**** my health up for anyone or anything.

Will I be a good interpreter? If I put the work into it and get as passionate as I was about massage yes, I will be. Will it happen over night no.

I am really not sure how I feel about interpreting. Its the bi-polar roller coaster. I will send you guys a post card when I get where I am going or meant to be.

Lets get-r-dun. That is for Jeanne Marie who will probably be the only one who reads this rant and I know it will irritate her.

Love you guys. I am a changed woman. I will take care of me.

My mother is a writer, bear with me I can write 10 page papers in five minutes, you just can't shut me up.

See, still going......

:-)