I have a question for you.
But first…
Some of you may know me already, but if I haven’t met you yet, my name is Kelley Libby. I’m a graduate student who rents at The Overlook. I guess you could say I’m a newcomer to Oregon Hill—been here about 15 months. In that time, I’ve come across a number of Oregon Hill citizens, both in the public writing and out in the neighborhood, who are tremendously faithful to Oregon Hill and who stand up for it when it needs help.
I really admire that. I come from a rural community in Northeast Florida that in some ways reminds me of this community. One of the things I love best about home is that people there take the time to sit on their porches and visit with each other. I enjoy the stories, the news, the jokes, the sipping of sweet tea, even the pauses in conversation. To talk with a neighbor on a porch is fellowship of the highest sort, and at the same time, a simple, natural happening. I love that it happens here in Oregon Hill, that I’ve been invited to sit on porches with some of you all—to watch the cars go by, to listen to the birds and the church bells, to take a break from all the going, and to get to know you better.
If someone were to tell me that there would never be another porch talk, ever—that all the porches on people’s houses were to be removed—I would be devastated. And I would fight, as I’m sure some of you would. And that leads me to my question.
What is it about Oregon Hill, for you, that you’ve either fought for or would fight for if it came down to it?
I’d like to put all of your comments into a book that will benefit Oregon Hill in some way. So I’d love it if you wrote to me. Or if you’d prefer, I’d be happy to sit down and talk with you. I’m at the William Byrd Community House every Thursday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and like I said, I like porch talks too.
My e-mail address is kelleylibby@gmail.com, and my phone number is 904.540.1689.
