Life Preservers

Happy Leap Day! Love, Francesca

February 29, 2016 at 12:17 am Leave a comment

Rarer than a birthday wish, more enchanting than a New Year kiss, less varmint-y than the beginning of this month: Leap Day.

It’s an extra day. A rare day. An abnormal day. A not-quite-real day. It’s the un-cola of days. It’s the Brigadoon of days.

It’s a disorderly day. An odds-and-ends day. A day to acknowledge the imperfect way in which the world goes ’round.

And that’s worth celebrating.

I highly recommend taking the day off. But, if that’s not (are you absolutely certain it’s not?) possible, try to work some disorder and silliness into your day. Legend has it that how you spend Leap Day portends your frivolity levels for the next four years. Ignore it at your peril.

Mark this day with hijinks, shenanigans, treats, and a touch of chaos. Fly your freak flag. Wear the Sponge Bob tie. Put a slice of baloney in each of your shoes.

Car, bus, or train, commute in Groucho glasses.

Order the whipped cream. Get the giant-size mocha. Tell the barista your name is something it isn’t.

Host a paper airplane contest in Cubeville. Sneak out of a seminar to go bowling.

Go out for lunch. Go out for a long lunch. Try a crazy food. Drink champagne. Buy lottery tickets. Visit the toy store. If you must go to the gym, do cannonballs.

Goof off as much as possible and, when the workday is done, run for the door. One absolutely mustn’t work late on Leap Day. Spend these extraordinary hours with people you like.

Have something random and yummy for dinner, like peanut butter and jelly or French fries or a pint of ice cream. Recite poetry. Tell jokes. Talk with your mouth full.

Dance in the living room, watch a classic comedy, round up your neighbors for some Kick the Can. 

Laugh a lot. Stay up too late. Enjoy every minute.

Because, when that clock strikes twelve, we’ll be back on course, behaving ourselves, masquerading as normal.

Entry filed under: Humor - Commentary. Tags: celebrate, February 29, Leap Day.