| I just realized I have an extra day this year! And it's | | | | 4 years they have a festival that includes a hot air |
| coming up very soon, too. In high school, it was the | | | | balloon launch, a parade, and birthday party for those |
| weekend girls were allowed to ask out the boys. | | | | born on February 29. If you are a leap-er, by all |
| Any other week it was deemed unladylike and | | | | means, free to stop by and join in the fun! |
| unseemly. So, what is this leap year thing all about? | | | | Now we have an extra day this month, and the big |
| Well, it takes the Ms. Earth slightly longer than 365 | | | | question is what should be do with this extra Friday? |
| days (24 hours each) to make it around Mr. Sun, so | | | | It is a gift, of sorts, and it is on a Friday. I have been |
| we need that extra day to keep the calendar in line. | | | | thinking about this and it seems to me that I can |
| Otherwise, after 100 years we would wind up | | | | either spend this extra day on my "wants" or my |
| something like 24 days ahead of the seasons. Now | | | | "needs" or I can give it to someone else. |
| that would mess up my computer calendar! | | | | I could use it as a day of total self-indulgence, or I |
| The idea of leap year has been around since the | | | | could use it as a day to organize all of this paper |
| Julian calendar was introduced in 238 BC. We | | | | mess around me, or I could use it to visit an old folk's |
| currently use the Gregorian calendar, which is OK, but | | | | home and bring cheer to some of those special |
| it may need some adjustment in about 3000 years. | | | | senior citizens. Or, even more radical, I could use it as |
| When the Gregorian calendar was adopted in Italy, | | | | a day to commune with my Creator - worship music, |
| Poland, Portugal and Spain in 1582 they lost 10 days | | | | dancing before my Lord, Bible reading, prayers of |
| of October! Whoa! I feel sorry for all those people | | | | thanksgiving, and soaking up His magnificent creation. |
| whose birthdays were during that time! I would not | | | | However I use choose to use this extra day, I will be |
| have liked to be without my birthday presents, I can | | | | grateful for it. Every day is a gift from God, wrapped |
| tell you. | | | | up in pretty possibilities and fluffy dream bows. Or, |
| I grew up in New Mexico, and I happen to know that | | | | as the Psalmist said, This is the day the LORD has |
| Anthony, Texas or Anthony, New Mexico -- Anthony | | | | made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 |
| is exactly on the border, so what state you're in | | | | However you choose to spend your extra day, |
| depends on which end of town you're in! -- is the | | | | rejoice and be glad for the extra Friday! |
| self-proclaimed Leap Year Capital of the World. Every | | | | |