A Year.

2016 you dumpster fire. 

Now that that's out of the way. This year, marred as it is with the deaths of some of the people who made me who I am, the election of a fascist, and the end of hope also gave me a few honest great things.  In an effort to combat the depression of this time of the year... here they are.

1.) Wrote three episodes of TV for three different shows, all airing this year. For those keeping track, that's a Chicago Med, an Incorporated (with a second episode in two weeks), and an Ultimate Spider-Man.

2.) Ended my two longest running comic series, THE BUNKER and THE LIFE AFTER, and, I think, did pretty damn good at sticking the landings.. 

3.) Contributed to the brilliant and beautiful LOVE IS LOVE anthology (in stores now) with my life mate and collaborator Gabo. 

4.) Finally got to work with Bernard Chang (and again with Marcelo Maiolo) on KING. 

5.) Helped relaunch the ASPEN Universe with pals J.T. Krul and Jordan Gunderson.

6.) Made an amazing new group of friends thanks to my time on Incorporated (including the inimitable Mike Batistick and Aiyanna White, with whom I wrote tonight's episode.)

7.) Sold a TV show and a Movie based on my books. More news to come. 

8.) Started a creative artists support group for those of us struggling with the election and it's forthcoming consequences. More info on that soon, too. 

9.) Watched my daughter continue to grow into one of the kindest, best people I've ever known. 

10.) Got to do the above with my wife, the most wonderful partner in every struggle and against ever challenge a guy could ask for. 

Okay, so that cheered me up.  So, now, here's the rest.

This was the year my diabetes got bad enough that I moved onto an insulin pump. 

This was the year that my back injury left me debilitated for more days than I can count.

This was the year that I lost my friend and mentor Darwyn Cooke. 

This was the year that my faith in democracy crumbled. 

This was the year that I was made to feel like that little kid getting bullied by racist, tiny minded dickheads again.

This was the year that I saw a large swatch of this country for what it really is.

This was the year that we lost David Bowie, when we needed him most.

This was the year that tested every single thing I have in my life. 

But most of all, the thing I'll remember 2016 for, is that this is the year I survived. I survived getting let go off a show. I survived the ever escalating injury list. I survived the tension that permeated every friendship, every relationship, and every interaction in this strange new world. I survived staffing season, and some hard contract negotiations. I survived my transition to television. I survived being taken advantage of. I survived cruelty and disappointment and sorrow and heartbreak. I survived holding my weeping wife and confused child. And I did it, despite it all, with just the tiniest bit of hope. 

Sometimes that's all we have to hold on to.