Leap Day

Tomorrow is leap day, the 29^th of February, a special day in that it only happens once every four years. We know a woman who was born on leap day. She has a birthday every four years. So, when she turned 56, she was really only 14. Those folks always win the stuffed toy at the “Guess Your Age” booth at the amusement parks. I never knew anybody who got married on leap day. But if you forgot your anniversary you’d maybe have a good excuse. Except on that fourth year I s’pose. 

My editor wants an extra column from me in February since we have this extra day. Well, I have questions about this extra day in February. For some reason it’s a work day. I don’t get that. Why is it assumed that it’s a work day? Who made that call? It’s a great deal for you teachers and students. You now get finished one day earlier in the spring and have a longer summer. The rest of us? We work an extra day this year, and some of us get to write another column. If you get paid by the hour, good for you. You get paid for that extra day. But If you get paid by the month, you don’t get paid for working that day. Zilch. Nothing. Where’s the outrage? It’s too late to do anything this year, but four years from now, let’s get this extra day turned into a holiday. 

On a more positive note, a reader from San Quentin points out that a leap day counts as one of your days served if you’re in the joint.