Monday, March 01, 2010
Poco Hor: The Lecture
On May 7th, I'm launching a new lecture (no not every single story will be new) called:
Poco Hor!
Listening, Connection and Understanding:
The Sometimes Forgotten Tools of Care
The lecture will be in Toronto and you can get information or register by calling Rose Castronovo at Vita Community Living Services, 416-749-6234. A few people have asked me what Poco Hor means and, though I should wait for the lecture - I've decided to tell that story on video. So I sat down at my computer and gave it a shot. I felt silly talking to the camera, but there it is.
One of my readers, a woman named Susan, says that this is one of her favourite stories from Rolling Around in My Head. So I've decided, without her permission, to go ahead and dedicate it to her. She's someone that I think always, intuitively, understood what Poco Hor! meant.
As this is my first, but not last as I presently have three planned, YouTube video, I ask if you could both rate it and leave a comment there. Thanks.
Really important story to tell - really important for us all to take a frequent look at what we think we know and reflect yet again. And yes, I too have a poco hor story-I guess many of us do - thank you for making me start my week off with the reminder to tread softly and leave my assumption boots at home!
ReplyDeleteHeidi
Oh, Dave. What a heart-warming - yet at the same time heart-wrenching - story. How often have we all, disability or no, wanted desperately to share something that was important to us, only to be misunderstood or dismissed by others? What a great reminder to make sure that we try to understand what others are trying to tell us. AND...how nice to see you on video! It's great to finally be able to put a voice with your words. I found that the sound level was a tad low, but other than that it was great. I'll be looking forward to more videos!
ReplyDeleteHave been sitting here thinking about your story and that with very young children who are just starting to speak, they say sounds to us and we talk back to them , often not knowing what they mean but when someone was labeled mentally handicapped and lived in an institution it was often looked at as a 'BEHAVIOR' issue.
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to the youtube site for leaving your rating and comments :-)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8n80xoJoNo
ReplyDeleteAmazing to hear your voice and finally see you in action
Beautiful story.
ReplyDeleteOne question though: if you were reading from a script would you mind posting the script as a transcript for your Deaf and hard of hearing readers?
I'd offer to write a transcript but if you were reading from a script that could save a lot of trouble.
Seconding the request for captioning. (Or, second best, a transcript.) As a deaf person I can't watch the video without it and would like to.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
A script!! I had notes and the notes said, 'Poco Hor Story'. That's it. I'm totally cool with someone doing a transcript for this ... however, if you search google for hingsburger poco hor a blog post will pop up. It's not the same as the video ... but it's the story that the video is based on. I'm going to try to figure out how to caption. Dave
ReplyDeleteOh, I so badly wanted to be the first to leave a comment on the video and tried, twice--does that count? I couldn't make it stick! Just know that I wanted to say something like, "Wow! Awesome!" only in a few more words.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if when people play a video while a computer microphone is on, if DragonSpeak could pick up that audio and transcribe it, though there may be corrections to make. That might be a timesaver.
ReplyDeleteYou have a nice voice!
Dave, that is story is absolutely beautiful. I think your interpretation is spot on (the funny thing is, my oldest son heard you telling the story and thought your were saying Por Favor not Poco Hor...that really is please).
ReplyDeleteBTW, the video is great but the volume seems to be a little low.
Awesome story. Volume level was good. The story is so good that you may want to slow down a bit in it's telling. Allow the story to sink in for me.
ReplyDeleteWell, Dave, I've been trying to decide all day how to respond to your kind gesture. I've been turning your words over and over in my heart today. I can't feel more honoured to have one of YOUR stories dedicated to me. ("Me"???) And for it to be this one... well, that's just way beyond words.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you remembered... but you did. And I am blessed in the deepest recesses of my soul.
God bless you and God bless the message. Now instead of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears", I'm going to tell my children "Poco Hor". Every chance I get.
Well, it's "my" story, after all. :)
And please, sir. Can we have more?
I meant "grandchildren". But I suspect our kids (all grown) will be eagerly listening in as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story. Thanks for resharing it with us. And to hear it in your own voice added so much too. I have a theory for you. As soon as I saw the title of your story, I thought of poco hora, spanish for little hour.I wonder if Phillip had heard that expression and used it to ask people for a little hour, a little time to share with him. That would certainly fit with your final interpretation.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this video. I have been following your blog for a few months now and it was wonderful to hear your voice and this special story. I have many friends in L'Arche communities who speak words I do not understand, but it is the message that is so important even if we cannot understand the words. Thanks again for sharing this story!
ReplyDeleteFiona
Dave, that's a wonderful story. That video should be required viewing for new employee orientation. I hope you do more video blogging.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure most people hear the story and try to do their own interpretation. It makes us all think and that's good. Maybe he was telling you he'd like to hear some Procol Harum which liberally translated from latin means "of these far off things".
I only have one question did anyone ever take him outside maybe he was simply saying "pro favor", because he wanted to be outside not just look outside.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful it is that you share the things that you assume you did wrong or over looked, for others to learn from. I say you are a brave man to openly do what others refuse to do even when they are alone.
I love the idea of watching you on video or on You Tube. If you haven't done it watch it yourself. You may want to reposition yourself in fromt of the camera.
I am looking forward to (hopefully) many more.
More volume, I had to turn my speakers up all the way.
ReplyDeleteDave what a beautiful story. I look back on the days I was a student in the institution and thank the people who had to call the Northwestern Regional Centre their home for teaching me and sharing their humanity. I have had a career in community services but I learned many of my skills from some beautiful people who survived living in those places.
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Dave.
ReplyDeleteI worked for about a year in a "post Institution" country farm environment until I was expertly assessed as brain injured and cognitively impaired therefore seemingly a risk and employment was withdrawn.
ReplyDeleteMuch to the horror of my co workers who enjoyed my empathy and so on and one who said such was obvious but why did they have to write it down.
So I have been and maybe am on both sides of the fence so to speak.
An amazing year of great learning and a few poco hors.
Imagine my newbe horror when one chap ran dancing without clothes across the fields.
My "Boss" who knew so much better than I was unfazed, seems the chap simply liked the feel of the fresh air, nothing to sanction or panic about.
As someone said a year long humbling experience during which those who see the world differently taught me far more about respecting all people underestimating nobody and how few worries we really have in life.
Video adds an entire new dimension to reading your works
As I read your blog (nearly each day) I have always imagined what your voice might sound like reading those words.
ReplyDeleteCan I just say that I find your voice beautiful? Better than I ever imagined? And I love that smidge of Canadian accent. <3 <3
Now I get to hear the real Dave Hingsburger in my head as I read.
Sue
This is the first tiem I have left a comment on your blog, but after watching this video I feel I must.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story, but so sad. People 'hear' things all the time, but only some really 'listen' to what is being said either through words, gestures, looks, or behaviour.
I found this video deeply moving and inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing. Niki