Boston.com readers share their Leap Day stories
"My gorgeous fiancé and I are getting married on Feb 29th!!!"
When we asked Boston.com readers to share their Leap Day stories, many “leaplings” chimed in — folks born on Feb. 29.
Alexa Rockwell is turning 24 on Saturday. Therefore, for her “sixth birthday,” she’ll host an adult version of a children’s birthday party.
“I’m talking games, goodie bags, and adult juice pouches,” she wrote in an email.
Other readers will celebrate Leap Day birthdays this weekend at Disney World and a casino. And one Boston.com reader is anxiously awaiting her Leap Day wedding vows.
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Geddy and I met each other back in 2011 when we were married to other people. We were just acquaintances. And then we lost touch for six years as I moved down south and as we experienced and lived through our personal journeys of heartbreak. He and I both had reached what we imagined was the lowest that life could lead us to. And we both began to search for healing. Our faith and belief in a higher being held us together and brought us into the perspective that there is so much more than ourselves in this life. For the first time, we felt hope. We began the hard work necessary to recover from our habits, hurts, and hangups. Geddy has been sober for over 5 years and is now the leader of Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered recovery program.
Only when we became content with just being who we are and, on our faith, did we reconnect with each other. He messaged me reaching out to tell me he knew what a past can do to a person. And so we began writing letters getting to know each other once again. We see this marriage as the greatest gift on this side of heaven. A gift that we don’t deserve but will accept with humility and gratitude. Not only do we get our best friends as our spouse, but we get a little family. We will become a family of four with his two precious boys so I cannot help but say that we are drowning in blessings.” — Hannah Robinson
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“My son Jacoby was born February 29th, 2012. He will be celebrating his ‘second’ birthday (he’s turning 8) this year and we’re taking him to Disney World Friday Feb. 28! — Joe Ross
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The news clip of Alexa Rockwell’s birth.
“I remember all my ‘real’ birthdays vividly. When I turned one, I shared a Barbie cake with my preschool class and while nobody had any idea what a Leap Day was, there was a toy in the cake and that was enough. A few days later, I remember seeing a picture of myself in the newspaper. I was standing up around the table wearing a purple party hat, my mouth wide open and mid-bite of a large piece of chocolate cake. I waited four years for a birthday and the photographer couldn’t wait four seconds for me to finish chewing? When I turned 20 on my fifth real birthday, my friends wore overalls, pigtails, and scrunchies for a 2001 themed surprise party; the year it was when I was actually five.
This year, for my sixth birthday, I’ll be hosting an adult version of a children’s birthday party. I’m talking games, goodie bags, and adult juice pouches. I’ve requested that all my friends come dressed in my favorite leisurewear; a tracksuit (preferably velour). I have full faith that my friends will follow through.” — Alexa Rockwell
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“I was born on a leap year in 1972. My daughter missed the 1992 one by four days. So we are going to celebrate my 12th at our local casino. Wish us luck.” — Becky Wheelock
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“I’ll be celebrating my birthday on February 29. I’ll be 15 so my husband chose the theme ‘Quinceanera.’ We’re having a party at Prodigal Son, the local brewery in Pendleton, Oregon. Friends are coming from out of town to attend, since I’m special. On the day I was born, the local paper put my picture in the news as I was the only baby born in Pendleton on leap day. I’ve loved being the center of attention ever since. I love that I have something so unique about me that others find fascinating.
The most common reaction is for people to ask, ‘What day do you celebrate in the other years?’ I usually celebrate on both the 28th and March 1st, but for a period of time, I pretty much celebrated for the week before and the week after. Again, center of attention. About three leap years ago, I was the queen of the day at my favorite hipster grocery store in Bend, Oregon. They lavished me with gifts and had specials in my honor that featured items I liked. They had me wear a tiara and I happily complied (center of attention). My goal is to have an exceptionally good time but not get so drunk I forget who came to the party. Cheers!” — Mary Liberty-Traughber
Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.
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