Leap year babies mark birthday

Robin Caudell, The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Updated ·5 min read

Feb. 29—PLATTSBURGH — North Country residents Bonnie Black, Cindy Jennett, Sara Welch Munson and Bruce Kokernot are among the 5 million people globally celebrating their Leap Year births today, Feb. 29, 2024.

"Leaplings" or "Leap Day Babies" born on Feb. 29 celebrate their "real" birthdays every four years, since the Earth takes 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds to complete an orbit around the star, according to NASA. Those extra hours, minutes and seconds beyond day 365 rack up the extra leap year time. The last one was observed on Feb. 29, 2020.

Below Black and Jennett share their origin stories and how they will be celebrating today's planetary phenomenon, which has been recognized since the Bronze Age, 3300-1200 BCE (Before Common Era).

BONNIE BLACK

RC: What is your Leap Year age on Feb. 29?

BB: 18

RC: What time were you born and where? Were there any dramatic events associated with your birth? Who were your parents? What number child were you if you have siblings?

BB: 4:10 p.m. at Mercy Hospital, Long Island; first born to Roy & Marilyn.

RC: How was your birthday celebrated when you were a child?

BB: I didn't know I had a unique birthday until 2nd grade when I was teased about not having a birthday. My grandmother was March 3 and my mother had hoped I would be born on that date; we all lived with my grandmother, so we had a 'shared' celebration on March first or second-whichever was more convenient.

RC: What do you plan to do on Thursday? How will you celebrate your birthday this year?

BB: It's school break week for NH schools, so my eldest daughter and her family (who are skiing at Jay Peak) will be coming here to spend the day with me

CINDY JENNETT

RC: What is your Leap Year age on Feb. 29?

CJ: I will be 17 on 2/29/2024

RC: What time were you born and where? Were there any dramatic events associated with your birth? Who were your parents? What number child were you if you have siblings?

CJ: I was the 3rd of 8 children. There were no dramatic events surrounding my birth. My mother went into labor on her wedding anniversary (2/28) and had me at sometime on the 29th and no one seems to remember the time.

RC: How was your birthday celebrated when you were a child?

CJ: When my birthday was celebrated was not consistent. It took me years to figure out why I didn't have a birthday every year like everybody else did. My mother got to decide which day it was going to be celebrated on and it was usually decided by chance! Sometimes I heard, "I didn't have time to bake your cake so we will have to do it tomorrow". When I turned 18 the decision was made. I celebrated every 2/28, and 3/1 on non leap years and 2/29 on leap years. I really didn't like leap year birthdays growing up, but when I became an adult they became a lot more fun and something to laugh about and people always wanted to know what is it like? Sometimes it almost felt like being unique by default.

RC: What do you plan to do on Thursday? How will you celebrate your birthday this year?

CJ: I decided to take the day off from work this Thursday. Not because I have big plans, but I don't know how many more leap year birthdays I am going to have and I just want to be in the moment of this day and take my time with everything: talking with my family, friends. I will be going to lunch with my sister and daughter to the Butcher Block and then having dinner with my daughter and grandkids. I even bought a special Leap Year shirt to wear for the day.

SARA WELCH MUNSON

RC: What is your Leap Year age on Feb. 29?

SWM: I will be 10! Double digit birthday!

RC: What time were you born and where? Were there any dramatic events associated with your birth? Who were your parents? What number child were you if you have siblings?

SWM: I was born at 5:36 p.m., CVPH in Plattsburgh. My parents are Tom and Tina Welch. I am the middle child of 3 girls.

RC: How was your birthday celebrated when you were a child?

SWM: I have celebrated both days (2/28 and 3/1) as birthday celebrations. When I was 5, my parents threw me a a "very, merry unbirthday."

RC: What do you plan to do on Thursday? How will you celebrate your birthday this year?

SWM: I am going to Montreal with a group of friends for dinner and staying at an Airbnb with a spa day on Friday. This is a year of self care and surrounding myself with the people I love. Mani/pedis, game night, spa, good food and incredible company.

BRUCE KOKERNOT

RC: What is your Leap Year age on Feb. 29?

BK: I'm 80 years or 20 birthdays old today. Was born in Lexington, KY. The myth is that there was a flat tire on the way to the airport. Parents Lee Glenn Kokernot and Beulah 'Boodie' Kokernot. Dad was stationed in Lexington with Air Force and was transferred within a couple weeks, so I spent only couple weeks there before mom trundled me of to her family home at Van Auken's Tavern in Thendara/Old Forge, NY where I grew up.

RC: What do you plan to do on Thursday? How will you celebrate your birthday this year?

BK: I'm spending today in Paonia, Co with my younger brother Rand, my daughter Larissa, son Nate, and three grandchildren. Back to Plattsburgh tomorrow.

Email: rcaudell@pressrepublican.com

Twitter@RobinCaudell