JD

To one of the greatest musicians I know.

We met in elementary school briefly, but we first really got to know each other in middle school, when we were both in Honk together.  He got the lead, and I was his understudy.  We carpooled back and forth to rehearsal every day.

To this day, we are still friends.  Our relationship hasn't changed much.  We are in the high school shows, choir, etc together.  We work well academically (English, AP World).  Even though we have radically different views on some things, we are still very good friends.

He plays piano with improvisational skills much better than mine, he sings better than I do, and he plays guitar amazingly, which I can't even try to do.  Yet there is never any sense of competition.  It's one of those things that is just accepted.

But he is a really good friend.  I think the best example of this can be seen recently, when we were at PMEA.  As I stated previously, I didn't really make any lasting friends there.  He had a group that I was always with.  Yet, whenever I would begin to feel lonely, I would always go look for him.  He made me feel welcome.  One of the biggest disappointments of the festival was not being able to room with him.  But we still had a good time.

Today we found out that we only had one day to get an application ready for the NAfME National Mixed Choir.  We stayed after school and filled it out.  I hope that both of us gets in.  I would like to go, but I couldn't stand going alone.

Does he have better friends, sure.  I can't possibly be anyone who can jam with him, I'm not in that league.  But it's nice to have him as a friend.

-NM