At one of the nearly dozen newspapers where I've been allowed to hang my battered press hat over the last few decades, the city desk kept a "tickler file."
News items that might warrant a follow-up would be placed in the file for checking on at some future date.
My own mental futures file was tickled the other week when community news writer Jenny Gordon reported on E.Z. Cleghorn being selected the winner of Perry's local version of the "American Idol" talent show.
I had been meaning to check on the talented young musician and singer about whom I had written a column more than a year ago, having been impressed by E.Z.'s remarkable talent and impressive attitude and energy.
It was encouraging to read the versatile young performer, who happens to be blind, is continuing to impress listeners and seems to be doing well, continuing his college education while delighting audiences at the same time.
I also thought I might bring readers up to date on one of my favorite column subjects, a dear, sweet lady I had the privilege to meet and write about more than two years ago.
Dixie Harte, a pioneer of Warner Robins' business community, charmed me from our first meeting at Harte's Shoe Shop. The family business started in 1956 when much of Watson Boulevard was a dirt road and is still going strong today at its location in Miller Hills Shopping Center.
When I interviewed her in March of 2006, Mrs. Harte was still making almost daily appearances at the shop, handling the books and matching customer claim checks with repaired footwear. Now, 89 years young, she taking it a little easier, "gabbing away like teenagers" with her friends at the Summer Hill assisted living facility in Perry, according to her son Bob.
"She's doing quite well, still sharp as a tack," the shoemaker reported Friday.
While making my morning "tickler" rounds, I stopped by the hospital practically next door to check on how the valet parking operation is working. It's been more than seven months since Houston Medical Center started offering free valet parking service to visitors to the Warner Robins hospital.
The service began in conjunction with the loss of dozens of parking spaces due to the ongoing construction of a huge new patient bed tower adjacent to the existing facility.
Valet parking was something of a new concept to many who drove up to drop off mother or visit Uncle Charley. So how's it going now, more than half a year later?
"Pretty steady," reports Gerald Fortier, the manager of the team of guys who park the cars and, while they're at it, offer other assistance to visitors and are all-around ambassadors of good will at the hospital entry point, rain or shine. More people are getting used to valet service, he added.
You might say they're just tickled.
