Reality can bite pretty hard

Last night while cleaning up the kitchen, I listened to Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors", which has been a favorite since childhood. I can sing along with many parts--the music is tuneful and matches the drama perfectly. I found myself weeping during the dance of the shepherds, just because the music was so happy. Then, when Amahl offers his cane to the wise men to take to the baby Jesus and is miraculously able to walk, I burst into a different sort of tears. My daughter will not be miraculously healed--there are no such things as miracles.