Yes, it's true: I'm eight years old today, as far as any of you know.

My first post, in fact, was sent in by telegraph, back when the world-wide-web barely stretched past Pittsburgh. Every website was still all black-and-white, and all the pictures were cut from linoleum blocks.

Oh, but those were the days!

Anyway, it's been amazing to be here with all of you. I'm sorry I don't have all the time I had eight years ago, when I could spend hours a day reading and writing and exchanging notes.

As it happens, though, I've got a lot of vacation right now, so I'm hoping to knock out a short series. I've been working on it every day. It's so nice to have time to get some momentum. I won't start posting until the whole thing is done. No "(never) mind the gap" blog entries, I promise.

Thanks to everyone for reading and writing and contributing to the site. Thanks to Erin and the others! If it weren't for this site, I never would written as much as I have, and I doubt I would have improved much as a writer.