DETROIT – Ever wonder what it’s like to be a rare leap year baby? To technically age slower than anyone else?
Us, too!
It’s not easy to find people born on a leap day -- February 29 -- when that date only occurs once every four years. Leap years were established as a correction to counter the fact that Earth’s orbit doesn’t exactly fit our 365-day calendar. Scientists say the orbit actually takes about six hours longer than that.
So, having a leap year every four years keeps our calendars on track. Months remain in sync with annual holidays and events, like equinoxes and solstices, and we don’t have to worry about it one bit.
But for those born on that rare leap day, things operate a little bit differently -- at least in the logistical sense. We chatted with a few Metro Detroiters with the special February 29 birthday to learn more about their experiences.
Here’s what Heather Hosking from Oakland Township, and April Harris from Detroit had to say about being leap year babies.
What was the process like when getting your first ID? Do you experience any complications when getting such documents renewed?
- Heather: Since I was 16 and that was a leap year, I was turning 4 that year so everything was OK then. My legal documents expire on March 1. Turning 21 and being legal to drink was a little more of a problem … I was not able to be served until March 1, which sadly was a Monday. Who wants to party on a Monday?!
- April: It was exciting, but there were a lot of questions from the lady behind the counter. She was amazed because I was the first leap year baby that she had ever met. She was fascinated. I don’t experience many complications anymore since the Secretary of State has updated their systems. Prior to that, I would always have to take my birth certificate with me in order to confirm my date of birth.
Michigan licenses tend to expire on our birthdays -- does this work the same for you? When do you renew your tabs?
- Heather: My drivers license expires on March 1. I must renew my tabs by the end of February.
- April: It’s weird, my car registration expires in February, and my driver’s license expires in March.
How does your birthday impact your legal age?
- Heather: It just makes me a lot younger than my peers! I will be 13 years old this year instead of a middle-aged 52-year-old. I’ll take it!
- April: I will be 44 this year and 11 in leap years. I’ve only had 11 real birthdays!
When do you celebrate your birthday when it’s not a leap year?
- Heather: I tend to celebrate both days with whoever’s around to join me ... or like a typical woman, I celebrate all week or month!
- April: Funny thing is, my parents used to argue about when they would celebrate my birthday. My mom would always give me gifts on March 1, as she would say “I was there, she was born the day AFTER Feb. 28.” However, my dad would give me gifts on Feb. 28, and he would always say, “She was born at the end of February.” When it isn’t leap year, I normally celebrate all of the days of the Pisces zodiac sign since I’m a Pisces!
Do you do anything special to celebrate your birthday when it is an actual leap year?
- Heather: I try to! I’m taking most of the day off of work this year. I will have a nice dinner with my family and maybe hit up a spa in the afternoon.
- April: I normally have a big party to celebrate, but the older I get, the more I just want to travel with my husband and/or family and friends. I’m just grateful for another birthday, leap or not.
Do you experience any other complications or setbacks due to your birthday?
- Heather: Sometimes memberships have my birth date down as the February 28 if they didn’t ask for a year. If I get free meals or coupons for stores in the month of my birthday, I usually have to use them before my actual birthday would be, which kind of stinks.
- April: Sometimes I feel as if I get the short end of the stick, as most people have and know that they get the same day to celebrate their birthday. Whereas I have to figure out when I want to celebrate.
How tired do you get of talking about this topic as a Leap Day baby?!
- Heather: I don’t get tired of it at all! It’s kind of fun. I feel special in that way.
- April: I never get tired of it!