Turning a bad experience around

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To the Editor:

A couple of years ago I had written about how life is good on this beautiful Island.

This past fall I decided to rent my home for the winter. It was my first time doing this and based on my experience, most likely my last. When I got my home back last month from the family that had been living there I found that they had taken things that didn’t belong to them, broken other things, and left my home disgustingly dirty. I was feeling hurt, violated, sad and disappointed.

Many people on the Island quickly reminded me why life is good on Martha’s Vineyard.

Before getting my home back, my sister and I were staying on-Island at the Clarion. After being there over a week, it was like a second home for us. All the staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome during a very stressful time.

Once I got my home back, I tried to change the locks myself. Let’s just say that I now realize I don’t have a future career as a locksmith. When I had workmen coming by my house to help me get things back in working order, they couldn’t get in the house thanks to my handy work. Buzzy Blankenship was there to help me out and it wasn’t an easy task. I had screwed things up so bad that even he was having a difficult time, but he didn’t give up and fixed it for me. He could have charged me an arm and a leg, but he didn’t. He even helped fix my screen door (I wasn’t on-Island).

When I came out one morning to discover I had a flat tire on a newer tire, it could have been a real bummer, but thanks to Island Tire, I was able to get it fixed quickly and at a very reasonable cost. They were professional, courteous, and another great example of how wonderful Island people are.

I have been doing a lot of work to get my house ready for the summer, and I have made many visits to Hinckley’s in V.H. All of the staff there have been incredibly helpful, giving me advice and pointing me in the right direction with my repairs.

This is truly a wonderful place, and I thank all of you that have helped me over the last month. You truly are what makes this Island so special.

Ellen Duncan

Edgartown