Leap Day!

Mer was excited to hear that today is Leap Day. What's that, she asked? My first explanation was a shorthand, off-the-cuff explanation involving the earth traveling around the sun taking a little longer than what we call a year, because people made calendars, so we have to catch up. Mer understands about catching up - she also understands about having backups for things, like an extra sour cream in the fridge at all times - but her astronomy is not that strong yet.

Second try: it's a holiday! She was deflated to learn that it did not involve 1) decorations or 2) special songs or 3) desserts. At least not traditionally.

Third try: February 29 rarely happens, so it's special - only every seven years! I said. Four years, Derek reminded me. The earth takes 365.25 days to go around the sun, so every four years. Of course. Evidently my astronomy is not that strong either.

-JRR