Lansing State Journal 120 E. Lenawee Lansing, MI 48919 517-267-1313

Published February 29, 2004

Leap year birthdays require gift of math

* For more information on leap year babies, visit the Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies at www.leapzine.com.

By Kristofer Karol
Lansing State Journal

It's not often "2"-year-old Gregory Johnson leaps around his Lansing home like a frog.

Then again, it's not often he gets a chance to celebrate his actual birth date.

Gregory turns "2" today - leap year day, which occurs every four years.

In reality, Gregory is 8 years old.

"There are some good things and bad things," Gregory said about his awkward birthday. "The bad thing is, if people
find out (I'm 2), they might say what my leap year age is.

"The good thing is when people say 'Act your own age,' I can still do that."

Elizabeth Johnson remembers when she was about to give birth to Gregory.

"I was told my due date was February 29 and I didn't want that," she said. "I thought it'd be too weird and strange -
we'd never celebrate his birthday.

"But once I had him, I said 'This could be fun.' "

The Johnsons went all out this year, getting Gregory a frog-themed cake and cupcakes to take to school.

The leaper also is a member of the World Wide Leap Year Birthday Club and has several Feb. 29-themed shirts,
including one that reads "Leap Happens."

Marisa Rosol, an Ohio native and first-year student in Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine,
said her mother also was hesitant about giving birth on Feb. 29.

"As I was growing up, I thought it was confusing when I turned 4 and there was a (number) 1 candle on my cake,"
said Rosol, who turns "6" today.

But Rosol's birth date has since become something fun to celebrate.

Rosol remembers celebrating her 21st birthday with her family and getting some odd glances from the bartender
when she asked for a martini.

Her driver's license had her correct birth and expiration dates - Feb. 29 - but it also said she would turn 21 on Feb. 28.

There was no leap year day in 2001.

Four-leaf clover

There was a leap year day in 1916, when Holt resident Fern Reid was born.

Reid, "22" today, was one of four leap year day babies in the Lansing Catholic Central High School class who
graduated in January 1934.

"I think it's rather special," Reid said. "I've always enjoyed it and never regretted it - people always remember my birthday."

Fern's daughter, Holt resident and non-leaper Corinda Cottom, said family members are coming to town to celebrate her
mother's actual birth date.

"Sometimes we live our whole life and we kind of take (birthdays) for granted," Cottom said. "I was thinking it would be
unusual not to have a birthday every year."

Leap year day birthdays can be fun, but they're not the only reason to celebrate Feb. 29, said Honor Society of Leap
Year Day Babies co-founder Raenelle Dawn, who lives near Salem, Ore.

"People get mad about this day and say it messes up their schedules and it's really about balance and harmony and
that's great," said Dawn, who turns "11" today.

"This extra day makes sure we celebrate the same season in the same month each year, otherwise we'd have
Christmas in the summer.

"It's everyone's extra day. Do something good with it."

Dawn has been writing to government officials and calendar publishers for two decades to try to make leap year day
a holiday. But publishers refuse to add the day to their calendars because it is not officially recognized, Dawn said.

Luck of the draw

It is indeed unusual to have a leap year day birthday, but it's also rare to find a couple who married on that day.

Bill and Theresa Warfle of Shaftsburg celebrate their "10th" wedding anniversary today.

But Theresa Warfle insists there was no hidden meaning for choosing the date - neither Bill nor Theresa are leap
year day babies.

"When we found out that day was there and that it was available, we chose it," Warfle said, adding her wedding
was on a Saturday.

Warfle's nephew, Pat Dunn, lives in Laingsburg and celebrates his "11th" birthday today, so she understands the
peculiarities of celebrating something only once every four years.

"We only have an anniversary every four years," Warfle noted. "It's neat - it gives you something to talk about."

The $27,000 question

While there is an extra day on the calendar this year, the fact that leap day occurs on a Sunday means it will have
few implications for many state, county and local agencies.

Maj. Mike Carpenter said the Ingham County Jail will spend $27,427.50 to stay open an extra day this month.

And, unlike many businesses, Carpenter's department still has to show up to work on Sundays.

On a larger scale, state Department of Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan said the state will spend $3.84 million
to keep its 42 prisons and 10 prison camps operating one extra day this year.

Officials from the Ingham County Road Commission, city of Lansing and Michigan Department of Transportation
said the extra day does not affect them significantly.

Jay Wortley, senior economist for the state Senate Fiscal Agency, said he doubts there will be a big jump in
income taxes or sales taxes for February.

"There is an extra day for shopping, but that doesn't mean people will go out and shop," Wortley said. "I go to the
grocery store every two weeks anyway, so I don't think the one extra day would make me go more often."

While the one extra day might not matter much to many people, it holds a special place in all leapers' hearts
and gives them a sense of pride.

"It's a conversation piece," Rosol said. "I'm in medical school and I'm only 6 years old."

Contact Kristofer Karol at 377-1286 or kkarol@lsj.com.