Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Simply Bret, One Year Later

Hey there, Ms.Viv ‘Nim Fanatics!

It was just one year ago on this day, January 26, that I witnessed a dream come true. Simply Bret was published, and within the course of one year, over 150 copies have been sold. In order to celebrate the success of our dear friend Bret, I thought it would be fitting to share his bio… as if we don’t know about him already.

A staunch, loyal, and dedicated patriarch, Bret George Douglas was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Roger and Sylvia Douglas. The youngest of four children, Bret has three siblings—Robert (the eldest), Catherine (a.k.a. "Cattie"), and Sandra (his closest sister). At an early age, Bret knew that he wanted to be a teacher. His added incentive: his grandfather and his mother.

After graduating from Twin Cities High School, Bret attended South Carolina University, and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. It was also at South Carolina University that Bret met and fell in love with his college sweetheart, Susan Ariel Gosinheimer. After graduation, the two married on July 12, 1980, and moved to Culver City, California, where they raised three children—Howard Allen, Sarah Elizabeth, and Nicole Yvonne. Knowing that destiny has a way of doing things beyond the finite mind, Bret strongly believes that it was a providential plan for him to follow his dreams outside of Minnesota; the catalyst for this change was his sister Sandy, brother-in-law Dave, and nephew Timothy moved to California five months prior.

Bret is a Kindergarten Teacher at Wiley L. Sapp Elementary School, where he has been teaching since 1993. He succeeded next door neighbor and best friend Clark Kenneth Jones. In actuality, it was Clark who helped Bret realize his dream to teach kindergarteners. Bret's dream was to retire after his youngest child graduated from college, but after receiving a compliment from one of his students for being “the bestest Kindie-Garden teacher in the whole wide world,” Bret changed his mind and decided to teach "the little kiddies" until it was time to officially let go.

Bret is also a member of First Baptist Church, under the pastoral guidance of the Rev. Stanley D. Richardson. He sings in the Male Chorus every Fourth Sunday; otherwise, one may find him sitting on the fourth row next to his wife Susie. Bret is also a huge wrestling fan; his favorite wrestler of all times (not surprisingly) is Bret "Hitman" Hart. And admittedly, Bret is also a huge Michael Bolton fan— he once tried to grow his hair out like the singer, but admitted that he couldn't fully commit to the task.


MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
So many to chose from, so I’ll just name them all: The day Susie and I got married, when my inspiration times three were born, and when I began my teaching career.

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT:
You can ask my big sister Sandy, but it involves rollerskating.

FAVORITE ACTOR: Bill Cosby

FAVORITE ACTRESS: Phylicia Rashad

FAVORITE SINGERS: Michael Bolton

FAVORITE TV SHOW: The Cosby Show

FAVORITE MOVIE: The Game Plan

FAVORITE ATHLETE: James Worthy

FAVORITE CARTOON: The Flintstones

FAVORITE COLOR: Blue

FAVORITE FOOD: Turkey Spaghetti

FAVORITE ICE CREAM: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

SECRET TALENT:
I’m a pretty good actor.

IN MY FREE TIME, I LIKE TO:
Relax with my family and friends.

IF I COULD’VE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY:
I would not be the man that I am today. Basically, I’m saying that I wouldn’t change a thing.

MY ROLE MODEL(S) GROWING UP:
Grandma Netta and Grandpa Gary

THE BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO ME:
My Grandma Netta used to always say, “Be sure that you talk to The Lord before you make a decision.”

SOMEONE WHO SHARES MY BIRTHDAY:
Harry S Truman, Don Rickles, Toni Tennille, and Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind, & Fire)

MY DREAM/GOAL IN LIFE IS TO:
Travel cross-country with Susie after we both retire.

THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE ME:
Loyal, Dedicated, Humble

MY BEST FRIEND (ACE-BOOM-KOOM):
Good Ol’ Jack Marcellia

MY FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT:
Minneapolis, without a doubt.

IF I HAD ONE WISH:
It would probably want to be the OSW World Heavyweight Champion about now.

SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT ME:
You can ask Susie and the kids about this one: I beat the hell out of a burglar with my trusty baseball bat. I delivered some good old-fashioned RBI’s—real bad injuries, if you will.

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