The Big Question: Chapter 5

First off I want to say I will not use anyone’s real name or name specific places due to respect of privacy. Oh I know I am on the Internet but you know what I mean.

So now I will continue my story (I have written previous blogs telling the beginning of this story so if you like you can go back and read those so you have the background on this story). Several months went by and the three of us went to all the meetings and always sat together. But the meetings for us were not all we wanted for the group was just too big and the leader was just overwhelmed with all he had to do and he didn’t want any help.

Twice we had meetings that had guest speakers and they were great! One was all about the first MS drug to hit the market and that influenced my ideas about that for good. The next time we had a very sought after speaker who was the best (at that time)  and he was an MS doctor. The attendance to that filled this little school’s gymnasium to over flowing.  This too changed me and both these meetings will get their own chapters later.

But now to go on.  I was now driving again and always took Miss Y (as I will call her) and after the meetings Mr. T (as I will call the Tall Man) always walked us out to my car. He said I want to talk to you about a big idea I have and can we meet at his favorite coffee shop that weekend for a long chat? I said sure as he only lived about 2 miles from me. I had no idea as to what was coming at all!!!

He was already at the coffee shop when I arrived. He could hardly wait to tell me his idea so he started right in. He wanted to start his own support group in our town and had already been in touch with the MS Society as to how go about it exactly which did entail a lot. But the whole thing hinged on that he could not do this alone and he wanted me to be his co-leader. I about fell on the floor for being shy and no experience in this, what could I possibly do? Remember his background was as a CEO and I knew he could do it but me no way!

He then went on as to why he needed me and what my abilities were the way he saw them, he thought we would make a good team. I was taken back to say the least and said BUT I don’t talk in front of a lot of people I just can’t do that part. He said he would do most of that anyway and he did love to stand and talk to groups of people. Also he said I could just sit in a chair up front with him and not say much. I still was not sold.

Then Mr. T pointed out all I would be doing in sharing the leadership of a support group. I knew this would be too much for him alone given the way MS was affecting him and more women than men get MS, so this would give the group a balance. He stressed again how much the MS Society would help us. Mr. T also felt strongly that we each needed to take this journey to help others and ourselves. Here I was looking at Mr. Big CEO asking me Miss Shy One to take a big leap with him.

So I sat a bit drinking tea and eating a croissant and thinking about all he said. Then I said OK I will do it but I swear you could make a freezing man sit on an iceberg and make him feel it was good for him! He laughed and said great and let’s get started on our work.

As we all know MS can close a lot of doors but Mr. T and I just started down to open a new door and go down another uncharted path, with more opened doors awaiting us.

Next time, my 6 years of being a Co-Leader and an MS Society volunteer and how that enriched my life.

-Holly

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