Today is a rare day.
A "Brigadoon" day.
The twenty-ninth of February appears every four years, and then disappears into the mists until another four years pass. It is also called a Leap Year, because --- hmm. Got me.
Still, people born on this day are younger than people born the year before.
It is also Sadie Hawkins Day, the great cartoonist Al Capp's invention. Women are supposed to be able to propose to men on this one rare day. But the actual event is a race held on Sadie Hawkin's Day in Dogpatch (and on some college campuses) in which the males get a head start. The females race after them and any man they catch must marry them. The concept was eagerly accepted when it was invented, because it was funny, and the first female empowerment holiday - even though Sadie's looks leave much to be desired. Actually, that was the point. They weren't desired.
From the vantage point of time, Sadie Hawkins Day seems kind of anti-feminist.
Is it? What do you hink?
You'd think, if they had to stick an extra day in somewhere, they'd put it on the end of June or October: beautiful months we could use more of.
But February? Here in the East, it's cold and snow/rainy and gray.
I think we should slice the whole thing up and tack the bits onto brighter, happier months.
But who am I?
A Historical romance writer.
And what has this to do with Romance? Nothing, I hope. Women should be able to take the initiative in deciding who they choose to marry more then only once every quartet of years. And they shouldn't have to look like sexy paper dolls or use nets and traps to catch those husbands.
As you can see, I'm not a great fan of Februay 29th.
But it was a great day for me this year!
I had a deadline I kept missing due to the most aggravating clutch of mishaps ever to come in a row. Everything from toilets rebelling, exploding sewer lines, hideous flu and the consequences, family nonsenses, and, etc., etc., etc.
... And then, would you believe it? I got the proofs for HIS DARK AND DANGEROUS WAYS, my book coming out from AVON in June. I had to put down the manuscript I was working on and correct the proofs before I could meet my deadline.
Then, done with that, I was printing up the finally finished MS for this long delayed book - and my ink cartridge ran dry, sending me out ranging through the wilderness to find another.
But I had an extra day to finish and send it in.
I done it. And it will get there in the nick of time, on deadline! (Barring blizzards, natural disasters, and a general strike by UPS workers, of course.)
Because of Leap Year.
Hoorah for the twenty-ninth of February!
Now, the other question for you, dear readers -
Since it's a day out of time and joint - just think.
If you had a whole extra day - a day off the record - a day that didn't count - a day just for yourself, what would you do with it?
Do tell. I'd love to know.