I always refer to years between birthdays as unbirthdays. Well until this one. A little late in life perhaps, but not too late. Oh, sorry, I suspect you are as confused as I was when I received a birthday message from my niece wishing me a happy 3/4 birthday.
You see I was born on February 29th, Leap Year. The usual response when I tell someone is ‘Oh you are one of those’ like I have a deformity or some odd handicap. The second reaction is ‘Oh, when do you celebrate your birthday’ usually on the 28th of February or March 1 is the assumption. ‘Poor Don, I’ve never met one of those’ again as if I am an oddity meant for the archive in their life review.
If February lacks a 29th, my birthday is out of sight and out of mind. Growing up my birthday disappeared for four years. I thought it wasn’t fair until I started referring to birthdays as natal remembrance day. But that wasn’t right either I still didn’t have a Birth Day.
My next effort was to call years between Leap Year my unbirthday. That always raised an eyebrow along with a healthy dose of skepticism ‘Right, getting younger are we’.
Nothing was satisfying. Nothing counted the intervening years, not that I needed to, at least most of the time, until this week when that message from my niece changed my vision. So I have just celebrated my 3/4 birthday, living apace, building the way to one more leap year, when I can start the cycle again.
I am having a very happy 3/4 birthday year, thank you!
