Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Happy Leap Year's Day!

You didn't expect an important holiday like that to go unnoticed by me, now did you?

When I was a little girl, I had a fierce crush on a (very good looking)little boy, who was about one year older than me. Actually, now that I think about it, there was no about about it. He was a tiny bit less than one year older than me, because his birthday was in February also.

I remember him telling me when his birthday was, Feb. 27, I think, and I mentioned (in my adorable, approximately 5 year old way) how fortunate it was his birthday didn't fall on Feb. 29, because then he'd only have a birthday once every four years (even at age approximately 5, I understood the necessity of having as many birthdays as possible).

He gave me a very eyes rolling look, and pointed out his birthday was a good 2 days before Leap Year's Day, and besides, he wasn't born in a Leap Year anyway.

I continued to love him. Did I mention how very good looking he was?

Here's something I don't understand (and have never Googled to see if anyone understands it). When they were making up the calendar (I have no idea who they were, but I know I wasn't consulted), why didn't they design it this way?

January 30 days
February 30 days
March 31 days
April 30 days
May 31 days
June 30 days
July 31 days
August 30 days
September 30 days
October 31 days
November 30 days
December 31 days

Leap Year's Day- June 31 (no one would object to an extra day in June, at least not north of the Equator).

Also, they should have spelt February differently. I can never remember if it has that extra R in it, and it's embarrassing not to know how to spell the month of one's birth (and the birth of the very good looking boy I was so desperately in love with).

February gets a very bad rap from just about everybody who doesn't have a birthday in it (and that's just about everybody; it has the fewest births per month, although that does seem to be because it has the fewest days-according to my calculator's long division, April has the fewest births per day). But with the splendidly mild winter we've had, even the projected Leap Year's Day snowstorm is now downgraded to a snow/rain mix, a nuisance perhaps, but hardly a blizzard.

Hmmm. Now that I think about it, Leap Year's Day is when women are societally allowed to propose. Sadly though, the very good looking boy of my dreams is now married, a lawyer, and eligible for Medicare.

He'd be a lot younger if he'd been born on Feb. 29!

7 comments:

Lisa-Marie Jordan said...

I think Leap Day should be a National Holiday! I mean, it just feels so WRONG to be sitting at work during my extra day of the year! Hope you have a Happy Leap Day, Susan!

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

I completely agree, Lisa-Marie Jordan. The more national holidays the better.

Meanwhile, it is snowing here (and schools around here are taking a snow day, so kids at least are getting a holiday out of it). I ran my errands without too much trouble, and now I'm indoors for the day.

Most likely Scooter will do some leaping, in the spirit of the day!

YOURYOUNGESTBIGGISTFAN!!!!! said...

A teacher in my school was born today, i am soooooo much older then him!!!!!!!!!!!! it is so hilarous!

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Hi YourYoungestBiggestFan!

You're right. That is pretty funny!

Morgaine said...

When I was in 4-H in elementary school, we were in a play competition and the play we performed was called February on Trial. I played February, and was accused of being the worst month, but I think in the end, February ended up being found not guilty, despite being the shortest month.

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Hi Morgaine and thank you for that story.

It proves how picked upon poor February is. In fact, I think poor little runt of the calendar February should be the poster month for anti-bullying campaigns!

Sebastian said...

If we had a 10-day week calendar, it would make sense.