Today, I'm Old

Remember when you were little and how "old" everyone who was taller than you seemed. For some reason I got it in my head that 40 was old. I never wanted to get that old. Even as a teen and young adult I never wanted to get to the age 40.

Today, I'm old. Today I turn 40. I'm depressed and want so badly to turn back time. I don't want to move forward.

I always thought by the time I do get to this age, I'll know exactly what I want out of life. I never really knew what I wanted to be when I "grow up"...and I'm amazed to find myself sitting here still trying to figure out what it is that I want to be now that I'm grown.


My sister greeted me with a pleasant phone call - NOT!!
M - Hello?
Sis - wake up Marti you're 40.
M - shut UP!
Sis - laughter - you're 40 and over the hill - laughter
M - SHUT UP!
Sis - Just say you're celebrating your 20th anniversary of your 20th birthday
M - put Seth on the phone

My nephew Seth (6 yrs old) is in the background yelling happy birthday - He sang me the birthday song and it was precious! His brother Jonah (2 yrs old) was singing so I told her to put him on the phone and he sang me the birthday song. It was adorable. That made my morning wonderful....

Mom called a left a message - it was so precious - I cried. I will cherish her words forever. Thank you Mom for having me. Thank you for being my Mom. I love you too.

In Loving Memory of My Dear Freind Deb

~ FRIENDS ~
As we walk our path of life,
We meet people everyday.
Most are simply met by chance.
But, some are sent our way.

These become special friends
Whose bond we can't explain;
The ones who understand us
And share our joy and pain.

Their love contains no boundaries.
So, even we are apart.
Their presence enhances us
With a warmth felt in the heart.

This love becomes a passageway,
When even the miles disappear.
And so, these friends, God sends our way,
Remain forever near.



Debra "Deb" Lynne Johnson Fike, died on Saturday, June 17 at Erlanger Hospital following a long battle with cancer.

Deb was a 1977 graduate of Red Bank High School and was employed by UT Orthopedic Surgery as a Resident Coordinator for over ten years. She was a faithful member of Chickamauga Church of Christ.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 14 Pennsylvania Plaza, Suite 1400, New York, NY 10122 or online at www.ocrf.org.

I'm Loosing My Best Friend

My best freind Deb is the hospital right now dying....I've been visiting her and it's tearing my heart out. This beautiful person is fighting, fighting for every breath of life. She doesn't want to give up. She's not ready to leave behind three kids (ages 23-17). She's not ready to say goodbye to her loved ones and freinds. But this ugly disease is winning the battle. I love her so much and like the rest don't want her to go. How cruel how utterly cruel you are cancer! You strip a person of their beauty, dignity and will power. How cruel you are taking away loved ones, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and freinds. Cancer you always win in the end - I hate you.