It’s gratifying that so many of you have emailed, Facebooked or tweeted to ask if I’m alright and not, for instance, in traction after being hit by a train or trapped under something heavy — but really, truly, I’m fine. Apparently I needed a bit of a break. I can’t tell you how lovely it’s felt to step away from the everyday grind of writing for a while, and after six-plus years of doing so I don’t feel the least bit compelled to apologize.

If history is any indication, this period of unexamined brainlessness will end in relatively short order. Soon enough I’ll have things to share, but for now I’ll simply point to my Twitter where I continue to chatter in 140-character bites. I wish you the happiest of holiday seasons and again, thank you for checking up on me.