Not forever! But in light of my new resolve to take things easier, my plan for the coming week is to blog minimally–if at all. I might conceivably poke my head in once or twice, but don’t count on seeing me again until next Friday.
Before I go, here’s a sneak preview of my next “Sightings” column, “Not for Blacks Only,” which will be published in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal:
Morgan Freeman may have a bone to pick with you–especially if you’ve ever had occasion to refer to him as “one of America’s best black actors.” Which he is, of course, the same way that Lynn Nottage is one of America’s best black playwrights, or Martin Puryear one of America’s best black sculptors. But the trouble with these three descriptions is that each contains the same needlessly limiting adjective. Mr. Freeman is one of America’s best actors–period. To narrow the scope of his superiority to other actors with black skin would be like calling Helen Frankenthaler “one of America’s best woman painters”: True, yes, and totally beside the point….
Needless to say, there’s plenty more where that came from. See for yourself–buy a copy of tomorrow’s Journal and look me up.
One last thing: I suspect that most of you have some idea of how deeply touched I am by your kind words and best wishes. There is nothing I could possibly say that would do more than hint at what I’m feeling right now, so I’ll put it as simply as I can: you have lifted up my heart.
Merry Christmas!