Kayaking Bar Harbor with Debbie Becwar, September 12, 2001
Bill Maloney
12/20/2004

01DaveOurGuide 02HeadODeb 03DebNBill 04DebNBill 05Keyhole
Dave Our Guide Head O' Deb Deb & Bill Deb & Bill Keyhole
06FellowPaddlers 07DebNOthers 08OurOtherGuide 09DebbieBecwar  
Fellow Paddlers Deb & Others Our Other Guide Debbie Becwar

I arrived in Bar Harbor the morning of September 11, 2001. While unpacking in my room I couldn't tear myself away from the images on the screen for I don't know how long. Then I realized I had to get away from it and headed into town to be with other people and get my mind off the images of that terrible day. I immediately made reservations with Aquaterra, the Sea Kayak touring center on the pier for the following morning. The next morning I found myself being paired with a cute midwestern strawberry blonde named Debbie Becwar. I had a great time paddling with Deb and afterwards we went for lunch on the pier and talked for a while. Deb's company was just what I needed and helped remind me that there was still plenty of good in the world. That afternoon we hiked Goreham Mountain in Acadia National Park on what seemed to be one of the best and clearest days of the year. The following day we biked the carriage trails together and I showed her as much of the park as I could in the time we had together. That evening after dinner as we walked through town we happened upon a candlelight vigil for those lost on 9/11/01. It was totally unexpected and one of the most moving ceremonies I've witnessed. Since that day Debbie has become my fast friend and confidant and one of the best people I know in my life. We keep in touch almost every day.

In 2014 Debbie and I visited the newly opened 9/11 WTC Memorial Museum at the foot of the new Freedom Tower. It was a very moving and at times overwhelming experience.

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