Chanukah is a holiday about miracles. One of the two prayers we sing over the candles celebrates the idea that there were miracles in the days of our ancestors and there are miracles in this time too. I've always loved that prayer. Pär likes it too. Tonight when I finished lighting candles, he said "Let's take a minute to think about modern miracles."

"Okay," I said. I thought for a moment. "Here's one: we were able to build a super high-tech gadget that we sent all the way up into outer space. Although we then chucked it at a big rock and broke it."

"That's a modern miracle," Pär agreed. "Tech and physics are at a state that's pretty astounding."

"It's a miracle that we're both alive and have no serious health problems," I said.

"You're writing and I'm working on virtual reality games," he said. "We're both able to do the work we want to do."

"Now that you mention it, that is pretty fucking miraculous," I said.

"Yes," said Pär. "And music is miraculous."

"David Bowie!" I stated.

"Mm," said Pär noncommittally.

"Well who, if not Bowie?"

"Abba."

"Really?"

"No."

"Hm."

"Sometimes music in general is just so beautiful," Pär said, "that it is like a miracle."

I went to him and sat on his lap and leaned my head against his shoulder. He put his arms around me.

"It's a miracle that nobody's blown up the world yet," I said.

"It's a miracle that you and I found each other," he said.