To the editor:

On Saturday, May 1, another miracle happened here on the south end of Whidbey.

For the 16th year in a row, volunteers gathered in the South Whidbey High School commons to begin another Hearts & Hammers “All Day Work Day” blitz for South Whidbey homeowners in need. Well-known contractors, electricians, plumbers, skilled workers, landscapers and just plain folks willing to roll up their sleeves and work hard for the day, split into groups and went off to various locales to fix leaky roofs, clear yards of debris and mend fences, among other things.

This year, I was blessed to be on the receiving end of this miracle. In years past, I have often been one of the plain old folks willing to roll up my sleeves and help, so it was humbling being on the other side of the equation.

But after 26 years of living on South Whidbey, life over the course of the past two had changed drastically for me: My marriage ended, my business flat-lined, and a move to a “new” old house awarded to me in my divorce left me barely able to know how to move forward.

I had been trying to do so in my new surrounds: a small cottage built in 1937 by a local pioneer, which had been moved several years ago to rent out as a vacation property. Once I took up residence here, I found that the roof was leaking in several places and that, among other things, water from the leaks had rotted some siding. With limited or no resources to fix the problem, I spent a couple of soggy and disheartening winters, indeed.

When my team showed up bright and early that Saturday, the sky was definitely “spitting” — I thought there was no way a new roof would go on in such wet conditions. But like a group of determined worker ants, everybody got to task. People hauled roofing material up and began installing it. Another team started working on the rotted siding.

I will spare you all the gory details, but let’s just say the wall behind the siding was worse than we thought. After a few tears were shed (all by me!), that area, too, was being tackled full-force. I was amazed and totally encouraged by the work that was getting accomplished right before my eyes.

By the end of the day and a few sun breaks later, I had a new, beautiful roof and a totally rebuilt back wall — with new siding and no rot. What a miracle!

I want to personally thank everyone who worked on my house — as well as everyone who donated time, skills, labor, materials and money to Hearts & Hammers. It never ceases to amaze me what a great and caring community we have. It is the best.

It is why 26 years ago when I moved here, I knew I had found a well of beauty, bounty and my miracle: my true home.

Sarah Dial Primrose

Langley