Dear Kid,
Every four years, something extraordinary happens. Something that makes us stop and take notice.
I speak, of course, of the Olympics.
Just kidding.
I’m talking about Leap Year.
Frankly, I think Leap Day ought to be treated like the extra day it is. It should be a day we can use any way we want. A free day.
It’s not. But it should be.
Because I’m that kind of mom, I turned to My Friend the Internet and collected some interesting fact about Leap Years (and it wasn’t easy because there aren’t that many interesting facts to find).
Even decades have three Leap Years and odd decades have two Leap Years.
During non-Leap Years, January 1st and December 31st fall on the same day of the week; during Leap Years, they don’t. (Go ahead. Check. I’ll wait.)
On February 29, 1692, Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba (an Indian servant) were the first people to be accused of witchcraft in Salem, MA.
On February 29, 1908, Dutch scientists produced solid helium. BTW, did I tell you my brilliant new idea? I think we should figure out how make bubble wrap with the bubbles filled with helium. That way, packages will be lighter. Cool, huh?
On February 29, 1940, Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American woman to win an Oscar.
In 1964, Frank Rugani set the badminton shuttlecock distance record of 24.3m. I don’t know what that means. I don’t know why anyone cares. But it happened on Leap Day, so there you go.
On February 29, 1980, Gordie Howe became the first NHL player to score 800 career goals. And in 1988, Mark Greatbatch scored 107 v England on Test Cricket debut. That might be interesting if anyone had a clue what it means. But no one (including the players) understands Cricket, so I doubt anyone reading this will be able to explain it.
Happy Leap Day, Kiddo!
Love, Mom
According to my husband, Leap Day affords women an opportunity to propose marriage. New one for me! I think it should be supported any day, myself.
I read about that. Sources vary on who “decreed” it (although I seem to remember they were all women monarchs). O believe the women had to wear pants to propose and if they were turned down, the man had to compensate them.