Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
AGING SLOWLY
Leap Year babies explain what it’s like to have a birthday every four years
This February, John Moutrey will be celebrating his Sweet 16. But he was born in 1956. As a Leap Day baby, he has had only 15 real birthdays. “When I was a kid, I hated being born on the 29th because I didn’t have a birthday every year and that was, kind of, that bummed me out,” the Hollywood resident said. “But now, it’s a little bit more unique, having that experience.”
Moutrey said this year is special because his real birthday falls on a Saturday. He plans to get together with his college
roommate and go to a nice restaurant for his Sweet 16 party.
“I can get my driver’s license finally this year,” Moutrey joked. “I’ll be street legal.”
Akeyla Johnson is 23 years old, but she will be celebrating her sixth birthday this year.
Having a Leap Day birthday doesn’t really bother her. On the off years, she just celebrates on Feb. 28 or March 1.
Unfortunately, when it came to celebrating at school, her birthday wasn’t in the system so no one acknowledged it.
“In school I kind of missed out,” said Johnson, of Deerfield Beach. “Other than that I still celebrated my birthday each year, even though the day wasn’t on the calendar.”
Johnson said one advantage of a Leap Day birthday is she always has a fun fact to share when she’s meeting new people or doing an icebreaker activity.
“I don’t have to think of an interesting fact because I was born with one,” she said.
Carol Carreno has had plenty of “unbirthdays” but will get to celebrate her 18th birthday on Feb. 29.
Carreno, of Tamarac, said an unbirthday is a year she doesn’t have a birthday, or a year that doesn’t have Feb. 29 on the calendar.
She said her husband’s family loves birthdays and makes sure to celebrate each person’s special day. Those celebrations always include cake.
She remembers receiving cards for her eighth birthday where her aunts would joke that she was turning 2 years old. And now, Carreno said with a laugh, her husband tells their friends that he’s married to a woman who hasn’t even turned 18 yet.
“Then I have to come along and clarify,” she said.
Carreno will actually turn 72 this year.