NO! I don't know braille!

In preparation for tomorrows MMM(W) I should explain for those of you who don't know, exactly what I do.

I'm a sign language interpreter for the d/Deaf. One of the most common responses when I tell people this is "OH, so you know braille!?" No, why would I know braille if I work with d/Deaf people? They can see moron! They can't HEAR!

Currently I'm working for a video relay company. Video relay is basically when a d/Deaf person wants to make a phone call, they call the relay service and pop up on my computer screen. I can see them and they can see me (think skype but clearer) they tell me who they want to call and I make the call for them. They sign and I tell the person they are calling what exactly they are saying. I speak in 1st person so I talk like this "Hey it's Susan how are you? No I don't know braille because I'm deaf and can see!" My friend Katey once said this about our career: "We are bridge-builders. We are gap-fillers. We are people-uniters." It is one of the most eloquent and beautiful ways to describe exactly what we do!

I just want to take this time to say I LOVE MY JOB! Better yet, I work with a bunch of people who also LOVE THEIR JOBS! A wise person once said "If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life!" This is only partially true because trust me, what I do is HARD WORK! I have difficult days and fun days and easy days. I'm constantly challenged and can't believe how blessed I am to have the ability and the passion to do this every day.

You'll understand why I explained all this tomorrow! In the meantime I leave you with this:


NO I DON'T FRIGGIN' KNOW BRAILLE!