As I traversed the demolition site of what will soon be the former U.S. Navy home port today for a photo project, I was struck by something. The site, as it appeared today, with debris piles everywhere and heavy construction equipment taking down the remains of buildings...it reminded me greatly of Ground Zero.

That 10 years ago, the same home port site was the location where many rescue and recovery workers took a brief respite from the horrors of the pit made it even more...fitting I guess? The whole experience set me on edge a bit.

So much has happened in the past decade that it almost doesn't seem like its been that long. Hell, so much has happened in this past year that it hardly seems real.

Feels like just yesterday I was in a snowy parking lot with a few friends, some old appliances and a sledgehammer...embarking on another crazy photo project. Now I get to wear a hardhat and roam an active construction site.

This has been a blur of a year. People that I thought i'd never see again have come back. And one evil went away forever.

I was recording a podcast with my friend the first night of May when I got the text. Instantly I felt a euphoria and release that everyone had been waiting to feel for a decade. I jumped and danced like the idiot I am until I remembered the loss and remembered that nothing will bring anyone back. It was a night filled with such conflicting emotion.

5 months later, a couple came into my job, there son had been a firefighter who was lost on September 11th and I discussed with them how best to view it. While I don't remember the full context of what they said, I sensed in them a feeling of...not acceptance, but of almost coming to peace with it all. They would never forget, nor will.

Our generation will carry this with us till the end of our days. How we chose to carry it is up to each of us individually. I will chose to use the lessons learned in as positive a way as I possibly can. I know that is what those that we loved and lost would want for not only me, but for all of us.

While I looked upon those early May days with conflict...I felt nothing but pride, albeit bittersweet- in July, when NASA's final space shuttle mission took off with Atlantis commander Christopher Fergusons rally call of "Let's light this fire one more time," I once again cheered like an idiot, proud not only to be an American, but to be a geek, for if it wasn't for a buncha crazed science nuts, we may never have had the chance to ride rockets.

I say proud to be an American because I am. And its not about whose dick is bigger or country songs or nutso politicians. I say i'm proud to be an American because I am. Look, yes, the economy is in turmoil. Lots of people are out of work. Reality TV is still a dangerous threat to human intelligence, but you know what? When Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Joplin Missouri were ripped apart by tornadoes, people from around the country helped. They didn't wait, they just did. They donated, they drove down to search for people, they put people up in their homes. When nature showed its worst, we showed our best. We're a country that can have the largest water balloon fight and enjoy the total unabashed silliness of it all just because.

I think that is part of the reason a lot of people are in a funk. Is no one knows how to just have fun anymore. There has to be a reason behind it, there has to be meaning to everything, and yeah even i'm guilty of thinking that way, but at least I can admit it. Whatever happened to just doing something for the sake of being a kid again? Whats the harm in going back to whats good and worked for us every once and a while?

When I look back at the past year I think i'll at least say I had a bit more fun and enjoyed my friendships more.

That actually was a big part of the year for me, the whole idea of friendship was pretty big. One of my mothers favorite movies was "It's a Wonderful Life" and one of the quotes I will always, always take away from that movie is "Remember, no one is a failure who has friends."

Without my friends I don't know how I woulda made it through this year. While it may sound corny or hackney, its true, you guys really were there for me at the worst moments and shared the best ones. For that i'll be forever grateful. Be it trudging through the snowy woods, random impromptu in-house barbecues, or marching up 6th ave dressed like Dan Aykroyd, you guys made it an excellent year, and i'll be looking forward to whatever lies ahead...even if it is a pie in the face that is actually Ranch dressing.

This was an easy year, nor was this easy to write, but it was cleansing, and I think at this time of year everyone feels a little bit like that, like the fighter who took one helluva beating but pulled it out in the end. I think part of the reason is because everyone has a little bit of New York in them, and if there is one thing I know about this city its that its a stubborn town, but if you make it here, you really truly can make it anywhere.

So to those reading this, wherever you may be, thank you. Thank you for your friendship, for your time, but most important, thank you for being yourself. I'll look forward to seeing you in 2012 and beyond, and you know what? I'll bring the bacon.

Stay safe everyone!