Do you have a bucket list? You know, that list of things or adventures we all want to do or accomplish? A few years ago, I realized I was 6 states short of all 50. My goal is to complete them all by age 60. Yikes! With sixty, knocking at the door, we (my husby and I), decided on a rainy weekend (imagine that this summer....) to take a road trip to Maine and cross off a few states...

"Road trip Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont" began on a foggy, rainy July evening. I didn't know much about Maine; our furthest point of interest, other than it was lush, green, coastal, lobster filled and the summer home of Andrew Wyeth. Our trip took us north on I-95, through the fog and on day 2 we entered " the Pine Tree State", Maine. We decided to stay in the Kennebunk area and on day 3 head to Rockland (Farnsworth Museum) and Cushing....We found a great B & B in Arundel, ME just outside Kennebunkport, and yards from "Walker Point," former President Bush "41's" the summer home .....Who knew?...

Day 3, off to Rockland to visit the Farnsworth Museum. Rockland, is a very quaint town. Former resident, artist Louise Nevelson, art works and influences are seen at the Farnsworth... as are some other American Contemporary artists like Alex Katz, Richard Estes and Berenice Abbott. But the big draw at the Museum is the Wyeth connection- the Wyeth Center, located near the museum and the Historic property, the Olson Farmhouse, site of the painting, "Christina's World," by Andrew Wyeth, in Cushing.

The backstory...(My closest friends and former students might tell you that I have had a crazy ongoing fascination (some might call it obsession) with Andrew Wyeth over the past 30+ years. He, Helga and Betsy frequented many establishments in my hometown. He was frequently spotted at my local AMC, we shared the same pharmacy, medical center, restaurants, and well, you get the picture.... Locals would laugh and tell me -you just missed your "boyfriend," he and Helga were just here! As a matter of fact is might appear that I was stalking him, because I would arrive only minutes after he had left. I live in a very small town.)

At the bottom of the Hill depicted in the painting Christina's World, not visible from the farmhouse, is a small family graveyard, very quite, simple and at the edge of a wooded bluff. The first grave marker we see says Andrew Wyeth, 1917 -2009. It faces the hill and the farmhouse. "Miss New Jersey" explains that it was his wish to be buried here with Christina and her family.

So, on a foggy day a few weeks ago I was able to make a small dent in my bucket list. I have now visited 47 states, only 3 to go...and after 30+ years, I finally caught up with Andrew Wyeth.  

A tickler file is a collection of date-labeled file folders organized in a way that allows time-sensitive documents to be filed according to the future date on which each document needs action. Documents within the folders of a tickler file can be to-do lists, pending bills, unpaid invoices, travel tickets, hotel reservations, meeting information/agenda, paperwork for appointments, birthday reminders, coupons, claim tickets, call-back notes, follow-up reminders, maintenance reminders, or any other papers that require future action. Each day, the folder having the current date is retrieved from the tickler file so that any documents within it may be acted on. Essentially, a tickler file provides a way to send a reminder to oneself in the future-"tickling" one's memory.

Tickler files are often used in newsrooms by editors, journalists, and reporters, as well as by many other groups, including sales representatives and professional offices in medicine, law, non-profit, government, and accounting.

A tickler file system also has other applications such as museum guides, specialized fact books, time management software, or any organized arrangement of information to which a person may want quick access............From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As an art teacher and as an administrator, I use tickler files to keep all of my meeting agendas, unit/lesson plans, notices of exhibit openings, invitations with driving directions, PAEA Conference information, requirements for submission to student/adult art exhibits, notes for parent-teacher meetings, birthday cards ready to mail, and other time-sensitive paperwork. Before I set up my tickler files, I kept everything in my day-by-day book calendar (Boy, was it thick, and a disaster when I dropped it and reminders/paperwork came cascading out of each day-slot!). I originally set up my tickler in two metal slotted standing files that I had on a counter behind my desk. I had so much paperwork, I used two standing files - one to hold the month folders and one to hold the daily folders. As one folder was emptied, I would rotate it to the back so that the next day/month file would then be in front. Every morning I would open the file for the day and organize my paperwork. I set up the files using 31 plain manila folders numbered 1-31 to hold all of my paperwork for the current month (Because they were used heavily, they had to be replaced at least once a year) and 12 of my favorite colorful Mary Engelbreight folders labeled January-December (so I could smile at the end of each new month as I set up my daily ticklers for the upcoming month). Ticklers were a revelation for me "back in the old days."  

Today, it is possible convert & save much of the paperwork in an electronic format that can be retrieved in connection with your electronic calendar. I actually have a small electronic tickler, though my old habits require that I still used the physical filing system. When I retired, I set up all of my files in a perfect Longaberger basket that has handles so I can lug it to my work table or stick it out of the way during the day. I still check my ticker folder each morning as I organize my day.