Category Archives: Ideas

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 →

Posted in Autobiographical, Childhood, Ideas, Women, Work, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Do Justice to the Ones You Love

Posted on April 30, 2017 by aamontgomery

A few weeks ago, my husband Kurt and I watched “Kedi”, a thoroughly delightful movie about the historic street cats of Istanbul, Turkey. These cats have no defined owners, they are not picked out at animal shelters or pet stores. … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiographical, Courage, Creativity, Fabulous, Happiness, Ideas, Love, Op/Ed Thoughts, Screen | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Give Me a Young Man’s Wisdom

Posted on February 28, 2017 by aamontgomery

[I wrote this original blogpost two years ago. Though much has changed since April 2015, it is amazing how much has remained the same–and I find this post eerily relevant to our country in February 2017.] Sometimes I find the most extraordinary … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiographical, Childhood, Courage, Freedom, Happiness, Ideas, Joy (Joie de General), Love, Music, Op/Ed Thoughts, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Going On

Posted on January 2, 2017 by aamontgomery

Why are all the real things, the important things, so easily mislaid underneath the things that hardly matter at all? — Jeanette Winterson, from “Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days” Over the last year I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimer's, Autobiographical, Dementia, Ideas, Intuition, Love, Op/Ed Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Love, Honor, and Compassion

Posted on November 7, 2016 by aamontgomery

Grandfather, Sacred One, teach us love, compassion, and honor that we may heal the earth and heal each other. ~ Native American Ojibwa Prayer Perhaps growing up poor gave me a natural affinity for Native Americans and other people who were … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiographical, Beauty, Books, Childhood, Courage, Family, Freedom, Friends, Ideas, Love, Op/Ed Thoughts, Photography, Women, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Difference Between Good and Evil

Posted on August 28, 2016 by aamontgomery

How can you not help, if a child asks? Someone who does not know the difference between good and evil is worth nothing. In fact, such a person belongs in a mental institution. —Mieczysław Kasprzyk, a Polish farmer who risked his … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood, Family, Happiness, Ideas, Op/Ed Thoughts, Uncategorized, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Work is a Kind of Love

Posted on February 29, 2016 by aamontgomery

~ wrote Marilyn Monroe in her recently discovered journal While watching the HBO documentary “Love, Marilyn”, my husband Kurt and I were surprised to hear the depth of the intelligence and insight found in Marilyn Monroe’s private thoughts as she … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiographical, Happiness, Ideas, Love, Photography, Screen, Tribute, Work | Leave a comment

Thunder Still Rolling in the Mountains

Posted on May 10, 2015 by aamontgomery

Perhaps because they lived so close to the natural world and recognized kindred spirits and sacredness in everything around them, the words of wise Native Americans echo through the ages with the same truth they carried when they were first said. … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Freedom, Ideas, Op/Ed Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I’d rather die standing than live on my knees . . .

Posted on January 8, 2015 by aamontgomery

“I am not afraid of retaliation. I have no kids, no wife, no car, no credit. It perhaps sounds pompous, but I prefer to die standing to living on my knees.” ~ Stephane “Charb” Charbonnier At the Paris office of Charlie … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Freedom, Ideas, Op/Ed Thoughts | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Wanting More

Posted on April 23, 2014 by aamontgomery

Exquisite joy has come my way from two directions in the last 24 hours, and both of these treasures came from the printed word–from magazines to be exact. As long as I can remember, reading has been my salvation; beauty … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Happiness, Ideas, Intuition, Joy (Joie de General), Photography, Screen | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment