Mitchell Way is more than I could've asked for as a director. He's a perfectionist, like me, so when he taught sectionals today, everything was just like I had hoped it would be.

We didn't realize it until today, but Mr. Way and I have met each other before. It was at a Mid-state rehearsal when we had lunch break. I went with my friend Bethany Green and the White House High School kids to CC's Pizza. Mr. Way was still their band director at the time, so he was there, too. Bethany introduced us.

And because we have Mr. Way, the clarinet section is moving along like it should.

On a sad note, a member of the Oakland Band was attacked by hornets during lunch break, and he had to go to the hospital. He's really allergic, so it's a blessing that he's okay. I had gone to eat at Blue Coast Burrito during lunch, when I usually stay in the band room and practice my Guard work. I wanted to stay behind, but I also wanted to make Mrs. Jones (Rachel's mother) happy, since she invited me.

The ambulance he was in pulled off just as we arrived back at the Band Room, and I felt very bad at the time. I mean, it's not like he's dead or anything, but I wish that I had been there for him.

I tend to feel guilty when the slightest thing happens to a friend if I'm not there to help them when I had the choice to be. It's not that I'm afraid that people will think "O, Danny's not here, he doesn't care," or anything like that, but I feel that I'm not upholding my end of the friendship but letting another person get in harm's way.

I just fear that someday I'm not going to be there when I'm truly needed, and my world will fall apart because of it.