I have returned; Christmas was chaotic, between my grandmother being recently in the hospital in St. Louis (which is roughly a 2.5 hour drive, if you obey snow speed limits) and my father having influenza. I have spent a moderate-to-significant portion of my waking hours babysitting the telephone and various worry-ridden relatives.
This is the first Christmas in my recollection that we did not have the entire family together in the usual location.
*sigh* I am happy right now to be in a place where I can relax, if briefly.
It's amazing some times how earnestly I miss you lot, both RAFians in general and this game specifically; your powers for relieving stress are simply astonishing. *verbal hug*