Star of the Week July 17

This week's star is so obvious that those of you who know her will agree. Mary Barrus is not only my aunt :-) but everyone's aunt. She will champion your every dream and will support your every need. One of Greg's biggest fans for the last 24 years, she holds the record for buying the most copies of Greg's CD, Isla California, and I believe his CD Sarabande of the Distance, as well. In recent weeks she has:

--donated copies of Isla California to the music department of the central branch of the San Diego Public Library and the California State History Museum in Sacramento.

--raised the idea of petitioning UCI to grant Greg his master's degree based on conversations with a friend of hers who sits on the graduate admissions committee at UCSD. (James and I are pursuing this.)

--sent checks so generous that Greg can eat every Sunday morning (something he looks forward to all week) for months to come at his favorite cafés: Britta's and the Corner Bakery. She told us that by sending a "little" donation, it is her way of being present with us in spirit.

Mary, you're not just an extraordinary star but a real champion. Greg, James, Motomi, and I send our love and gratitude.