Category Archives: Op/Ed Thoughts

Harper Lee’s Handlers Kill a Mockingbird

Posted on July 14, 2015 by aamontgomery

Ever since I read that To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee’s lawyer Tonya Carter and publisher HarperCollins were planning to publish the first draft of a novel she wrote 57 or so years ago, I have been sick to death … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Op/Ed Thoughts, Screen, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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

All the Blogposts I Didn’t Write

Posted on March 27, 2015 by aamontgomery

Yes, I have been spending too much eating, sleeping, dashing about, and in general thinking about, but not writing, blogposts. Guilty, guilty, guilty as charged. Here are just a few of the blogposts I didn’t write: Divine Celtic and Eastern … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Courage, Food, Happiness, Music, Op/Ed Thoughts, Screen, Travel, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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

He Stopped Passing the Open Windows

Posted on August 12, 2014 by aamontgomery

When I was young and struggling to raise my son on a secretary’s meager pay while working on my degree, my friend Amy and I used to say to each other, “Keep passing those open windows.” This way of encouraging … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, John Irving, Joy (Joie de General), Op/Ed Thoughts, Screen, Tribute | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

My Former Co-worker, the Pedophile

Posted on May 29, 2014 by aamontgomery

When I watch documentaries about the worst evils done during the Holocaust of World War II, or read books about the host of horrors mankind has wrought upon its fellow human beings, I occasionally wonder what it would have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiographical, Knoxville, Op/Ed Thoughts, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Work is a Kind of Love

Posted on April 14, 2014 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, Joy (Joie de General), Love, Op/Ed Thoughts, Screen, Tribute, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Creating the Future, Saving Our World?

Posted on February 28, 2014 by aamontgomery

Tennessee drivers: did you know you can do something as simple as putting a colorful, creative, and unique license plate on your car to support the arts across the entire state? Yes, for a mere $35 you can support the … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Knoxville, Op/Ed Thoughts, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Let’s Conjugate

Posted on March 23, 2013 by aamontgomery

Not really. Let’s not. Verbs are not really what should be changing their tenses in the spring, it should be the weather and tulips popping and migratory birds returning. Instead, it’s the usual cruel sort of spring here in East … Continue reading →

Posted in Dolly Parton, Knoxville, Op/Ed Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Zero Dark Ice Storm

Posted on January 25, 2013 by aamontgomery

Yes, my hometown of Knoxville continues to have one enterprising weather system after another in my least favorite month of the year: January. We have had 75 degrees, the freaky and fast-moving snowstorm that proved that some Knoxvillians can indeed … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Nature, Knoxville, Op/Ed Thoughts, Screen | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment