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between, but it was the best way to make my grand entrance into this group of misfits. The laughter began to die down and I slowly raised my eyes to see a room of smiles. One of those enormous smiles came from a very cute and very attractive lecturer – Lee Daniels.
    What the shit? Why the hell was he here?
    “Ms…” he requested.
    “Dove,” I replied as the surprised expression covered my face.
    “Ms. Dove. You’re new to the group, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself.”
    Ah yes, the AA approach to introductions. My favorite.
    No part of me wanted to stand up, especially in front of a guy I was attracted to who now knew he had no shot in hell with me. Why would he? In t-minus thirty seconds, he’ll find out just why I’ve put off calling him.
    “Hi everyone, my name is Kat Dove,” I stated wringing my hands. “I’m 33, an Aries, and love long walks on the beach.” Humor was and always would be my deflection. It was just simpler to make jokes then to allow the emotions to take over at that moment.”
    I received a low rumbling chuckle as I tried to take my seat and blend into the crowd. Just as my ass was about to make contact on the folding chair, Lee spoke up.
    “And are you here as a patient, family member, friend or caregiver?”
    Panic rushed through my body as I stood back up to address Lee’s question.
    “Patient.”
    I tried to sit again when Lee threw another question my way.
    “And how long have you known you had Lou Gerig’s disease?”
    Again standing, “About a month.” Instead of taking a seat, I decided to let it all out that way I could sit down sooner.
    “January 20 th at 1020 a.m. to be exact.”
    Recognition began to set in on Lee’s face as he remembered exactly what day that was – the day we met.
    “I was having a particularly awful day already, when I was sat down and told the news. I had been through ever test imaginable, but I knew something was wrong immediately. My doctor at the time let me know when I was completely alone. Shitty, huh?”
    “Doctors don’t know shit about bedside manner, honey. We’re just another zero on the end of their paychecks,” a sweet little old lady chirped from the front row.
    “Right?” I chimed in. “By the time I let it sink in and my best friend got there to console me, I was completely zoned out. My brain shut off and all I kept thinking was…”
    “I’m going to die,” a really young guy sitting three chairs down from me said.
    “How will I tell my family?” Another twenty something spoke up. Her nametag said, “Denise.”
    “How much time do I have?” Another spoke.
    “Will I ever get laid again,” a thirty something man said three rows in front of me.
    “Exactly,” I responded. They got it. They knew exactly what I was thinking and how I was feeling. That was something JoJo would never understand as badly as I wish she could.
    “Most importantly though, am I tough enough for this battle?”
    “I think if you ask anyone in this room, they’ll all tell you the same thing. You are stronger than you think. And of course you can still get laid, Kenny. Don’t sell yourself short big man,” Lee interrupted our conversation.
    I wanted so badly to believe this disease wouldn’t cripple my sex life, but let’s get honest here. And what about having kids, growing old, having grandkids. That was never going to come to pass. Then it happened. What I had dreaded since the mention of coming to this blessed meeting – I began to cry.
    I sat down, allowing Lee to begin his lecture as I tried to collect myself in front of the group. Sitting next to me in a high-tech wheel chair was a woman not much older then myself with the nametag, which read, ‘Chris’. She was so beautiful and yet there wasn’t a sad bone in her body just then.
    “I have tissues in my bag on the back of my chair if you need them, sweetheart. I’d help, but I lost mobility in my arms and legs about a year ago.”
    Although it shouldn’t