Marriage, Pawns & Appendectomies

It has been a whirlwind couple of days. It started when I learned of Airas' emergency appendectomy last Thursday, 7/21/16. I feared for him, the surgery, the recovery, his overall wellness. He is 10 years old. His age, actually, is his advantage. Young, fit, in otherwise good health, I am confident that he will bounce back in no time. For now, I/we have to be patient, and allow the healing process to take its course. This brought back so many memories of Chris' appendectomy 36 years ago. Chris was 3 when it happened to him. Chris' had already ruptured, and had become toxic in his little body. His emergency procedure affected us all deeply. I just remember that helpless feeling of my son being wheeled into the operating room, and there was nothing I could do to help him. Even when they were trying to locate a vein to insert the IV, his ankle was the best site, the blood squirting out of his tiny leg, onto the ceiling, was harrowing. My eyes meeting his, begging me, "mom, help me", and I couldn't. He was in the hospital for 8 days, the poison being pumped from his body, an ugly green substance that, to this day, is a shade of green I'll never forget. I am sure Chris and Christina feel helpless, too. They are both exhausted. Airas is tired, in pain, and just wants to come home. Soon, honey, soon! Same day, earlier in the day, I learned my brother and his wife had "separated". Per my mom, they got into an argument, and he left. Oh, I didn't think it was permanent. I know they've been having issues, he doesn't help, he is irresponsible, etc. She works too much, she is stubborn, she doesn't let anyone "give her any shit"! Well, long story, short, they didn't split up, just a spat, time will heal them. After one year of marriage, a tough one at that, they are both older, Cisco's first marriage, she was on her own for quite a while, independent, strong, yet, they are good for each other. They share much of the same interests. If they can just hang in there, they will become comfortable with each other, learn from each other, and have a long, happy life together. They have to make each other, their marriage, a priority. As if all of the above wasn't enough for one day, mom and dad finally executed their Revocable Family Trust. This began at the end of June, Mom and dad approached me to start the ball rolling to settle this. They had already decided how their assets would be distributed, and they were both adamant and united in their wishes. I will do my very best to carry out their final decisions. The cliche comes to mind, "they taught me so many things, but they never taught me how to live without them". I don't know how I will do that. As for me, right now, my life is pretty stress free. How? Its a choice.