In the wake of the recent RI flooding, we have seen local small business drown to death.  Literally.  Hundreds of small business owners lost much of their livelihood to historic flooding that shut down business and flooded homes.  It made me stop to think of how fortunate we are as interpreters to make our living off of a set of skills rather than selling merchandise.  We always talk about adding to our interpreter "tool belts", unlike other professions our tools can't rust or get washed away.  Elizabeth Nadolski, an RI RID interpreter recently said, "We may not be getting the best hours, but we are still getting work."  We have an incredible job of bridging communication and communities, a job that we cannot take for granted in times like these.  As the rivers calmed and the Warwick Mall gets a make over, we will still be empty handed showing up for jobs.  Our hands may be empty but our minds holding tight to our tool belts ready to build the bridge that sustains our profession.  


Hayley J.