From Siblings to Grandchildren - Learning By Example
Douglas, Alberta Byrd

ALBERTA: Alberta Byrd Douglas.

SPEAKER: And Alberta, thank you for agreeing to talk with us today. I guess I want to start out by saying, you're the oldest of three children?

ALBERTA: Of four. 

SPEAKER: Oh of four. Do you remember when you were little with your sisters and brothers and how or when you first started reading, did you read to your family members? Just tell me a little bit about what you remember.

ALBERTA: Ok, I sure do, Sandy, I remember reading early on in my childhood. Since me being the oldest I would always read stories. I remember "Cat in the Hat" that was one of my favorite stories and I love reading the stories and showing the pictures to complete that. 

SPEAKER: You were reading the stories to your...

ALBERTA: To my siblings. 

SPEAKER: To your siblings, and as a result of that, now that you're older, have you continued to read? Do you like reading?

ALBERTA: I love reading and I used to have the time to read. I read a lot of the Norm Roberts series and so forth and I still read but I read to my grandchildren now. 

SPEAKER: Oh how many grandchildren do you have?

ALBERTA: I actually have seventeen grandchildren.

SPEAKER: Seventeen?

ALBERTA: Seventeen grandchildren and for the most part those are my husband's grandchildren but for the couple of them together, I have about seven that I do interact with a lot and then my little one, Christian, is five and Christian and I read together all the time. And Christian calls me on the phone, "Grandma, I did good in school today. I'm the best reader in my classroom." You know and that type of thing. The last book I read to him was "Does God Know How to Tie His Shoe?" and so it was very interesting and it put everything together and he says, "Grandma, God knows how to do everything," and I say, "Yes he does." 

SPEAKER: Oh and you said he's five?

ALBERTA: He's five. 

SPEAKER: Well, tell me what type of stories that you like to read. 

ALBERTA: Oh God, I love drama, romance, mystery, I love all sorts of stories. I like to read different things. I'm always picking up a magazine and even Bill says, "You're always bringin' something home." You know, and I do have magazines and different things and books sitting there, it's just trying to find the time to go back to my passion. 

SPEAKER: Now what about writing. Do you do a lot of writing?

ALBERTA: I don't do a lot of writing because I guess with my profession being an instructor you're always grading and things like that but I like writing, I would like to do that one day but it's just finding the time to do that. 

SPEAKER: Ok, well before we close is there anything that you would like to add or mention or say? If you had to say something to your great, great grandchildren, what would that be?

ALBERTA: Reading is fundamental. Reading is a passion that you can use it for everyday life. There's so much knowledge, wisdom, and power in reading and I would just encourage you to do so. 

SPEAKER: Thank you so much.

ALBERTA: Thank you.