Four Decades Ago I graduated from 8th grade...and almost 3 Decades Ago Became a Parent...thinking of life time lines by the decades...

Remember playing hide and go seek and counting by 5s to let people hide? We'd call out, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 (boy the numbers were getting up there...what comes next? Oh yeah..) 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 (surely, everyone's got a good hiding place by now and it could be hard to know where to start looking since everyone hides so well in our big yard around the house along the woods even with boundaries one couldn't go past..) 95, 100! Anyone Around My Goal Is It!

What if we thought about the numbers as Years of Our Lives, counting by 5s and 10s... It dawned on me that I finished 8th grade at a groovy little school in CT in 1977 and so this year of 2017 would mark a 40th year since graduation. Maybe I'll be more prepared when that is the case for my high school reunion in four years. I tend to go to the first of three high schools' reunions that I attened back in the late 70s though I'd be happy to get to one at Wilbur Cross in New Haven CT or Roger Ludlowe in Fairfield CT somewhere near my graduation year of 1981.

do recall taking my first child to my 5th Vassar Reunion...that was about 25 years ago! Many friends were very surprised I was a parent and had an idea of what I wanted to do (be a Mom). "How could I decide? ( when the whole world was my oyster and seemed to be of interest to me and my peers...) That basically was always part of my childhood dreams. I wonder if that's changing now that more children see so many other options for parenting and living creatively, doing computer work in a flexible manner and basically living in faster-paced, pricier modern times>

Vassar treated me generously to help me attend the 30th from that lovely college in 1985 (even though I exited with the 86ers..) My two semesters off intermittently were some of the nicest times of my life... a trip across the great US of A-Miracle meeting family and friends, enjoying state parks and both coasts,mountain streams (as well as lakes, rivers and a few waterfalls to view including Niagra since we circled down through Toronto from Minnesota. I would like to make That kind of trip (out West to see family by the gadozens...) and Maybe CA and Oregon and more out thataway. Am I the only person to not understand that there may be a serious earthquake 'overdue' by a couple hundred years in the NW corner of the country?

I realize the climate change predications say 'oceans rising, which also are declining in vitality as they warm and 'turn into a parking lot' will force a 150 million people in the world to become Climate Refugees...but to have earthquakes snapping at the bit too...well, it does get to be a bit much to think about. I am past my desired bedtime and will blog about the Importance of Planning a few years in advance for a college students information to be consistent and connected to their college options for scholarships. Some colleges do not participate in certain state scholarship programs such as the Excelsior Program in NY which may give extra support above the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to attend college.

A 12-month residency to qualify for the TAP program (which can give up to $5K a year) is also important to note. The parent of a college student is deemed the guardian for tax and college support (think FAFSA, Parent Plus loans, tax dependents etc) in NY State until age 23. Every state is a bit different. so stay tuned. LIne up Health Insurance through state websites and other means as one is able..and the earlier the better. Every application can seem like a new secret code with tech challenges *such as the site shutting down or stalling" or phone lines being too full to take calls, with or without the option to leave Your Number to get a call back (so keep that phone handy.) Applying before the 15th of the month might allow you to have coverage that verymonth.W hereas applying After the 15th would make it so you wait until at least  the next month if not the one after that. Income verification, proof of residency, proof of not working at a previous job or at all might also be required.

Lots of basic documentation may be required to get a state ID card or Driver's License. Look that up online and realize some places (such as New York) will allow you to make an appointment if it is necessary to go into an office rather than do something online or by mail. Maybe good to have a second set of eyes and minds looking at these sites with you, taking notes and reviewing before going into an appointment. For changing one's license from another state or Canada, there may be an eye test required (yes, NY is one of those...and that sounds reasonable.

There is also a list of approved testers one can go to Before the appointment and get a note about competent vision. Driving in NYC with a license for that would be more involved. Some people need to take a class, test or thereabouts.And then there's the fee. about 75-85 dollars. Just encouraging everyone to due their Due Diligence and find out what's involved with the nitty gritty of college, driving, making changes in residency, health insurance, taxes and other Basics that can take calls, emails, web searches, support in person from others or a navigator (yes, NY offers such, good to have an appointment and get info together Before Going in.) Then there's the idea to Relax and Trust it will all work out fine. Some insurances can 'go back three months' and help pay for such bills.

There are income guidelines and some verifications needed by fax or uploading documents. Maybe someone at a library  could help or call 311 to get more clear about who can help with what. And may the force be with you! Don't overlook Tuition Insurance possibilities to help you sleep better at night. There are various policies and terms, but that would help pay for tuition and housing if a student needed to cut down on course loads or drop out for a semester and still pay the bills for college since they'd be due any way. Tuition Insurance sounds lkie the answer to a key question I didn't even think about even with plenty of time to worry, I mean consider the Possibliities..so that is usually due Before Classes Start and kicks in After the drop class option ends, usually a few weeks...happy figuring-outing! You and yours are not alone!!