dinner at a really nice restaurant and a sense of loss

Yep, linen, silver and all. We went out for Mom's 84th, which was actually the 19th, but this is when we could all get there. Dad set it up, of course, Mom did the reservations and calling us to be there, but he's feeling well enough to orchestrate.
It was really good to get together with my sibs and thier spouses and celebrate the survival of this past year. It has been a real roller coaster, and I am hereby declaring that 2011 is going to be a much better, less stressful year all around.
2010 came in with some issues, Dad became progressively more ill and ended up in the hospital several times. Mom was frightened and anxious. By May it was obvious that surgery was Dad's only option, and he had investigated the alternatives, so he had an aortic valve replacement in June.
While doing most of the support care taking, because they live closest, my brother and his wife also had to deal with her Dad's decline and eventual death to cancer.
By September Dad was failing again and the determination was made that the stitches weren't holding and the leakage was causing the red blood cells to be sheared, and he was also extremely anemic. Two days before Thanksgiving he went back into surgery for the "full meal deal", a complete medial sternotomy, cracked chest/ ribs spread/ open heart. It was tough, there were problems during surgery and he was on the heart-lung machine a long time, including having to restart it when they discovered a leak before closing and they had to go back and see if they could find it. Evidently most of the leak was sealed, although the surgeon told me he couldn't see it, there was no loss into the cavity but he put in stitches where it showed on the ultra sound.
Now, he's organizing dinners for Mom. And, he gave her a wonderful toast - apologizing for losing his composure, but a great tribute to all of her support and effort over the year.
It was a really great evening, except Himself didn't feel well enough to go, but I was happy to be with my family, and am blessed with a BIL and SIL who are superb people. And reminded again that it is very special and unique to have parents who have been married for 61+years and still love each other.

The sense of loss stuff is a totally different issue, changes. Two weeks ago my director went on administrative leave pending investigations of performance issues; and, my local pharmacist and grocery told us they are closing, where we've done business for 26 years; then, last weekend my minister announced she is retiring. Honestly, I really don't want to deal with changes like this, at least it's 3 and so that should be done with, if you believe my Scottish grandmother.
I just want a calm year, with good health, happiness and employment for all.