Category Archives: Autobiographical

Settling Down While Still Flapping Around

Posted on April 30, 2018 by aamontgomery

During my only graduate-level writing course at the University of Tennessee, Professor Jon Manchip White, an ex-patriate from Wales as well as from Hollywood where he spent his screenwriting days, advised us that we would-be writers should keep a commonplace … Continue reading →

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A Blue Moon Easter Eve

Posted on March 31, 2018 by aamontgomery

I haven’t written a blogpost since January because the last two months have been a blur of  packing, downsizing, moving, and all the details that such a nightmarish task entails. At times we have wondered if we should have left … Continue reading →

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The Paper

Posted on January 31, 2018 by aamontgomery

Until I watched Steven Spielberg’s latest movie “The Post” last evening, I had never thought of the throughline that newspapers have had in my life. When I was growing up, Daddy supplemented our income by working Saturday nights–through the night … Continue reading →

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Ode to Little Man

Posted on December 1, 2017 by aamontgomery

I have a dark-eyed, adorable obsession: the Little Man who a month ago was born into our lives. Last year my son Justin married the love of his life Tracy. From their love, has come their son Lincoln, the already … Continue reading →

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Daddy’s Ro-phorisms

Posted on November 30, 2017 by aamontgomery

When I was growing up Daddy used to drive me crazy with his corny aphorisms for every situation. We didn’t have the money to eat at the fancier restaurants such as Shoney’s–yes, we were indeed that poor. Mama and Daddy … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiographical, Childhood, Courage, Family, Happiness, Home, Joy (Joie de General), Love, Writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Arriving at Last

Posted on October 31, 2017 by aamontgomery

In the fall of my senior year at South (Knoxville) High School, I was offered a full scholarship to Berea College, a small liberal arts college in Kentucky. I didn’t know it at the time, but Berea was founded in … Continue reading →

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Taking Along Our Ghosts

Posted on September 22, 2017 by aamontgomery

When I was young, I saw the 1979 movie “Being There” starring Peter Sellers in his most provocative role as Chance, a simple, uneducated man who grew up and tended the garden on a great estate, and had never been … Continue reading →

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Independence Day

Posted on August 31, 2017 by aamontgomery

Recently I have been listening to Gretchen Peters’ recording of “Independence Day”, the song she wrote that was a huge hit for country music star Martina McBride in 1995. Well she seemed all right by dawn’s early light Though she … Continue reading →

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When Elephants Fight

Posted on July 10, 2017 by aamontgomery

When elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers. ~ African proverb As I was having lunch with my husband at our local health food coop, Three Rivers Market, I looked inside my drink container’s lid and this quote was written … Continue reading →

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Retro Communications

Posted on June 30, 2017 by aamontgomery

When I graduated from South (Knoxville) High School, I wanted to be a history teacher in the mold of my two favorite history teachers from South. My Tennessee history teacher Mr. (Fred) Ridinger Jr. served under General George Patton in … Continue reading →

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