Yesterday was Leap Day. You know that day when we make up for the fact that a year is just a smidge longer than 365 days long. Technically, a year is 365 point 2442 days long, so every four years we add the .2442s together and get a year that is 366 days long. It's a magical extra day. Did you do anything special on that extra day?
I have friends who were married on February 29. They felt it was a good omen for a happy marriage. I guess it was, as they celebrated their 14th anniversary yesterday yet they have experienced 56 years of wedded bliss. Just think, they probably will never get each other those "expensive" anniversary presents of silver and gold for 25 and 50 respectively.
Our family was supposed to have a baby girl born yesterday but she appeared a couple of weeks early. We all gave a collective sigh of relief that she would have a "normal" birthday.
Remember in high school, Leap Day was a crazy mixed up day. It was the day that girls could ask boys out. It was the day when the kids would get to teach a lesson and the teachers were the students. It was the day when kids could tell their parents what to do. My parents never bought into that notion though. They felt that Leap Day was just another day and they were not tolerating such nonsense by their "green" kids. No matter, we all thought It was a "fun day" where the normal rules did not apply.
I did not notice anything special or crazy yesterday. The normal rules seemed to apply to the geezers in the 'hood. They acted like they usually do. The LOM geezers had their daily meeting in one of the garages. The LOL geezers shared coffee inside where it was warm. I wonder if the fellows think their ladies are wimps because we drink our coffee where it's comfy? Come to think of it, there's no "thought" involved about who is comfy or not...it's all about being social, everyday of the year, Leap Day included.
As the day progressed, we made our pilgrimage to the store. I did not see any Leap Day specials (the store I went to was decked out for Easter, with a teeny bit of St. Patrick's Day decor thrown in for good measure). Remember Leap Day Specials? I don't either. And, as you know, it's easier to remember stuff from "back then" than it is remembering what we did 3 days ago. I'm guessing there are no Leap Day Specials as it rolls around every 4 years. It has no real significance.
I'm wondering if the average 12 year old knows why there's a Leap Day? Does that kid know why it's called Leap Year or Leap Day? Does that same kid even know we use a Gregorian Calendar, named after a pope, who tried to align the equinoxes with the phases of the moon? BTW, I just read a mind-numbing article in Wikipedia about the Gregorian Calendar. If you are having trouble going to sleep, bookmark that article. It's a real yawner (it might contain good information, if you can plod through it).
Today is back to normal. The phases of the moon are aligned and Spring will arrive on or about March 21, and Easter will be celebrated on time. All will be good. Remember we're in this together.
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