Solar Eclipse was a Success (as far as I can tell) for the universe and earthlings and earth energy, See more online about what the Dolphins were saying too..

Anyone up for thinking of the dreamline quality of the solar eclipse occurring on August 21st, 2017 on our heart planet earth? Google ideas about the dolphin messengers saying this may be ushering in a time of the 'divine feminine' in terms of bringing out planetary awareness to feel out collective humanity, our oneness on earth and be more open to healing ang growing together. I heard that on a talk I got in an email and will aim to track it down, but consider it a dream message that was shared at this remarkable time.

During the eclipse 'for real', the Moon was blocking the sunlight's path for a few minutes called "Totality" (a Total Eclipse of the Sun, as the song lyrics go and as the scientists explain online and off regarding the eclipses that happen only every so often, one back in the late 1970s and now in 2017 and I think one around 2024 someone told me this morning (worth checking of course...).

The Actual physical event was mesmerizing and intriguing enough to prompt many people to travel to the pathway of the eclipse for best viewing in the US and likely in other countries as well. I wonder what the Carbon Footprint was regarding those going the distance (especially just for the day or so is). Maybe we could voluntarily pace ourselves along those lines and in general when it comes to chasing about the literal countryside relative to the carbon iimpact, the stress and strain on anyone's health and social circles and so on. Often 'the next best thing to being there in person' can work out, a Plan B (as a book about handling life after change, loss, transition indicates may be something we all could entertain as important and a good option.

I got to spend the time up in northwest corner of CT caring for some little people (aka children) so their respective parents could go the distance to where they'd see the eclipse in totality (The Carolinas, mostly South Carolina.) The corona, or outside ring of the sun which is somewhat (look it up but maybe a million degrees) cooler in temperature than the core of the sun was still visible when the sun was blocked out by the disc of the moon and provided a delightful display as the moon revealed it anew as passing away from the sun. That's what I gleaned from one set of stories.

I met a woman who also happened to be one of a dozen siblings from Long Island who was out on a lake with friends in kayaks and canoes ready to view the eclipse from water. She was like an angel friend as were a few other people who enriched my time with the kids in the country house near a library that did a great story hour (hurrah for bubbles and seeing old friends, kids of my friends having kids and nice neighbors who loan cell phones when mine doesn't have coverage..

.Now if I could only find my House Keys...somehow they snuck out of my bag during one of my magical transitions in and out of trains, cars and strollers (and wagons, just the pull along kind but thought I'd throw that story in there to say it's Not the best to way to take little kids out on the town if one is prone to wanting Out and not cooperating about going back in.) I will have to put a quick list of child care tips as well as keeping track of Keys, Money, Social security cards and Important Lists of Things that Have to be done in a timely  manner (paying for Tuition Insurance Before Classes begin for college if one is at all interested in the security of having help paying back tuition if one's student might have to withdraw from a college semester for medical or other approved reasons and the tuition and housing costs are Still Due. The federal loans and scholarships likely would still be applied (from the school, need to check if private ones still would work out) if the student is there a few weeks, is what one college explained.

The terms likely are online for any specific loans, amounts and forms to fill out to pay fior it. That is on Today's Checklist since Monday the 28th of Aug is the due date or maybe will be Too late to get for this term or year (i didn't ask but did hear maybe I could get a half-coverage policy.) if a student would have to pay 10K for a semester after loans, then this tuition insurance would pay 70% of it if needed, and that would be 7K, leaving the student and her support team a smooth 3K to dig around for.

Every parent (note to self) should be Crystal Clear about the Terms of Loaning Any of their College Students money for college or other expenses,even when there is hardly time to do so. That's not ideal. We could Make Time and Standard forms for most people to use. If people have a custody plan, college funding may be included in some of those if parents have the means to support their children in those ways.{erhaps the student could pay it back after paying for some of the loans when better employed etc of pay back PLUS loans starting a year or two after graduation

Having a financial statement with dates and amounts due would be a handy-dandy tool and would be needed to be written up Before the Loan is taken out or at least early on (and before a second year's loan is takent out to have any legal recourse should that be of interest or needed, yet the terms of a PLUS loan likely spell out that the Parents Are responsible for the loan no matter what. Maybe it's not legal to 'agree off record and in writing' for the student to pay it back, but I am Just Guessing.

 I imagine a parent could not take their student to court to get the money back even if needed and they had the means to do so. Things to think about, yes? Having a third party help manage the student's funds to make sure the loans would get paid back may be a helpful requirement (someone trusty and accountable etc, ideally a nice family member with skills and bookkeepping skills which all parties should also have for their own record.)

Every state has different guidelines, but like child support which can continue until an offspring if age 23, some states expect parents to make a commitment to covering all or some of their student's college expenses. Colleges do that as well, but are not clear about whether a student would be able to be required to Pay their Parent(s) back for the loans whether personal or a federal program, like PLUS loans.

These are important areas that could be discussed more widely and practically. When a student has to pay back their student loans, generally six months after graduating, with montlhly payments, they may not have the job or means to do so. Will parents or others be willing to cover some of those until they can get on their feet? What are the most practical ways to do that and track that?

Might other family and friends be solicitied for support, housing, contributions of cars or other help to encourage a new graduate to network and find creative, responsible ways to live on a budget to cover basics and forego less necessary items? You Need a Budget, or ynab.com can cost a monthly fee but I hear is very helpful whereas mint.com and other sites may be free. Even having online banking is a good way to start tracking expenses.

Mapping costs out over weeks, months and years may be very helpful (and something I hope to do by November 1st if not before to motivate me to do better along these lines.) I didn't realize how important my role as a parent would be from many standpoints even though technically I've done this parenting a college student thing twice before, but mainly 'from a distance' with others wanting to step in and help with basics like tranportation whether rides or helping them get and maintain cars, scholarship applications, loans and so on.

I did help now and then when it was clear my help would make 'all the difference even though they did not think to ask til 'the eleventh hour.." Well, this is to help Other Schools and Parents and PTOs etc and yes PTAs, faith groups, town civic and recreation groups etc Try to educate parents and students about the nuts and bolts of these important transitional times in life, taking classes online versus at a community or state college or at a pricey private school. Sometimes the aid can bring the costs of the private school Down to the state college levels, but if a student can score free or low-cost housing that might be a reason to stay closer to home or other family and friends.

Well, wanted to share more about the solar eclipse (which I mistakenly thought was happening during the solstice so only off by a month but wonder if anyone else made that kind of mistake.and I may have to correct some blog posts as I can.. but at least I am understanding the error of my assumptions or what I thought I heard from someone else.)