I started life out on the wrong foot. You see, I was born on a day that doesn’t exist three years out of every four. February 29th. Leap day.

As a child, instead of thinking this was cool, I was embarrassed by it. I didn’t want what I felt was negative attention and was very jealous when the other kids had a birthday. They were brought to the front of the class for everyone to sing to them. I usually didn’t have a birthday, so was often overlooked. Or I would be told, “It’s not really your birthday” by the mean kids. I just wanted to be like everyone else.

Fast forward to decades later and I can recount the typical things you hear as a leapling. This is how an exchange goes when someone finds out you were born on leap day:

Person has dumbfounded look for a few seconds, followed by:  “Wait, so how old are you really?” They quickly do the math and spit out a number which is…always wrong.

Young me:  “I’m (insert actual age).”

Me now: “I’m 15. Just going through puberty, so you better watch out! (I recently got braces to go along with that)

Or this:

“Wait. How does that work? When do you celebrate?”

Young me: “Um, February 28th. I mean, I was born on the last day of February, right?”

Me now: ” Do I have to pick? It’s a two-day celebration, isn’t it? Bring on the gifts!”

Yup, we leap year babies hear the same things year after year. We’ll respond graciously, but in our heads we’re thinking, yeah, I haven’t heard that a thousand times. No bad feelings though, it’s nice that people care enough to comment at all.

Several years ago, I had a patient whose birth date was February 28, 1960. I said, “You got lucky, I was born on leap year.” She said she was born on leap year too. “No”, I said, “I mean the actual day, the 29th.” She said, “Yes I was born on the 29th too, but the doctor fudged the date on my birth certificate so it would save trouble in the years ahead.” I was jealous!

One of my brothers was born on Halloween. He never got to have a party on his actual birthday, because his friends were out celebrating the holiday. He was lamenting about this one year over the phone, and I was sympathizing with him. Then I said “Whoa, hold on. At least you have a birthday. Quit whining!”  We laughed.

Life has been an interesting ride overall. This year I turn 60. (I know, you already did the math.) The big, dreaded six-oh. So here’s my thing, so I can make up for all those non-leap year losses. If the Lord sees fit to let me live to 64, I’m having the sweet sixteen party I never had. And you’re all invited.

Happy Leap Day. God bless.

~Carolyn

“Life isn’t easy. Together we can make it better.”