| "I had a lot of fear of the water. I almost drowned as | | | | the dock. "Iwas ok," she said, "I wasn't even afraid!" |
| a child, | | | | Yelling to her husband |
| "says Catherine McLaughlin-Hill of Maine. A few years | | | | David, she told him she had forgotten her life jacket. |
| back shewas courageous to take swimming lessons | | | | "Well, Iguess you didn't need it, "he replied. |
| at the YMCA and todayshe's out in her own rowing | | | | Breaking through her fears has had a huge impact on |
| shell. | | | | Catherine'slife. Rowing has met her spiritual need to be |
| When her husband, David came home with 2 new | | | | in nature and herneed for time alone. Her courage and |
| Echo Rowing shellstwo summers ago, Catherine spent | | | | determination is evident inher independent journeys to |
| time learning to row from Lorna | | | | the water at the end of the day. |
| Perry, one of the Echo Rowing owners. "Lorna took | | | | "I can spontaneously, and in a moments notice, decide |
| the time toteach me personally. She's the one that | | | | for myselfthat I am going to go out on the water. I can |
| really taught me torow!" | | | | go down to thedock. I can put in the shell by myself, it's |
| Owning land on the bank of the Oyster River that has | | | | so easy to carry andload. I can jump in and go," she |
| its owndock, was the incentive behind David's | | | | says. At 42, Catherine gets toexperience an |
| purchase; that, and lotsof enthusiastic stories from a | | | | independence that means a lot to her. |
| co-worker who loved her rowingshell and spoke so | | | | "Every time I go out there, it is definitely my |
| highly of the stability and safety that theserecreational | | | | spiritualconnection to nature," states Catherine. Years |
| rowing shells are renowned for. David | | | | ago she wouldhave been too afraid to be on the |
| spontaneouslytook a ride to Echo Rowing in Eliot, | | | | water. Having worked throughmuch of the fear, and |
| Maine and drove home thatafternoon with one red | | | | having acquired land on the river with adock, she really |
| and one yellow rowing shell. | | | | has conquered her fear and met several of herneeds |
| "I've only been rowing for 2 summers. I'm really new at | | | | in doing so. |
| it,"says Catherine. "But one day I was so confident | | | | Today, Catherine enjoys her spiritual connection, |
| about my rowingabilities that I got in my shell and was | | | | independenceand tranquility on the water; something |
| in the middle of theriver before I realized I didn't have | | | | that used to terrify hernow excites her. Her learning |
| my life jacket on!" | | | | experiences with Lorna of Echo |
| Catherine never left the dock without her vest. She | | | | Rowing helped her to recognize that she could be on |
| realizedthat she was in the middle of the river and she | | | | the water andbe safe. Rowing brings her more joy |
| wasn't afraid. | | | | than she ever could haveimagined! |
| She knew she was confident enough to get back to | | | | |