Despite the fact that I am rather hungry and am functioning on less than half a cup of coffee, I am well today. I am okay. It is Leap Day, my favorite day of every four years.
According to science, each year lasts exactly 365.25 days. If we simply ignored that extra quarter of a day, eventually our calendar would no longer be in sync with the seasons-we would literally have Christmas in July. So to make things easier and more convenient, scientists decided to just add an extra day to the calendar every four years. February was the obvious choice, as it's a dwarf of a month anyway.
In Ireland, women propose to their significant others on February 29th. Granted, I do think that everybody should be able to propose to whomever they please regardless of gender, but there's something about laying it all on the line this one day of the year that I find really special and meaningful.
To me, Leap Day takes on a more symbolic meaning than just being the scapegoat for our scientific errors. Leap Day is magic. It's a day for second chances; twenty-four hours you can spend doing all the things you wish you'd done in the past four years. The craziest things could happen today, the most magical, beautiful, wonderful things.
Take life by the horns today. I guess I'm not really the best person to be dishing out that kind of advice given my current emotional state, but seriously people. Do it. Live. Laugh. Love. Leap.
Super awesome post and I TOTALLY forgot it was Leap Day.
ReplyDeleteBTW: In Denmark, women also propose on this day. And if they are turned down, they must be compensated with 12 pairs of gloves. Seriously.
My son just turned 16. When I was expecting him I *SO* wanted him to be born on the 29th. But alas, he came on the 26.
ReplyDeleteDid you know there is a cemetery in Canada that has a tombstone with February 31st as the date of death? I saw it with my own two eyes. I always thought that was cool. I wonder what day he really died though?
OmGrrl: As a person with a major affinity for gloves, I may have to try that some day. I'd be okay with the romantic failure so long as my hands were warm.
ReplyDeleteBirdie: Happy late birthday to your boy! That tombstone thing is positively wiggy. I wonder how they mixed up the date...and hmm, it would certainly be interesting to find out when he died...