The giant leap to another birthday

Claudia Figueroa

NEWPORT BEACH -- Elizabeth Brown and Edythe Smith, like most people,

celebrate their birthdays every year. But Tuesday they were treated to

something special -- an event commemorating them on the actual day they

were born.

The two Orange County residents gathered with family and friends Tuesday

at Newport Dunes for the resort’s second-ever leap year birthday party.

“We wanted to do something fun for them because they only get to

celebrate their birthday every four years,” said Michele Buttersworth,

director of activities for Newport Dunes Resort. “It’s like having your

birthday on Christmas. Some people feel cheated.”

Anaheim resident Elizabeth Brown, who is 12 (3 in leap years), and Edythe

Smith of Orange, 88 (22 in leap years), were treated to a complimentary

lunch at the Back Bay Cafe. After staff members sang the birthday anthem,

Smith and Brown blew out the candles on a chocolate cake decorated with

white frosting and pink flowers.

Elizabeth, who skipped her P.E. class to attend the event with her

mother, is a sixth-grader at Springview Elementary School in Huntington

Beach. Elizabeth said she celebrates her birthday on Feb. 28 and March 1

when it’s not a leap year.

“Since I don’t have an actual birthday for four years, I have an excuse

to celebrate the two days that would have normally surrounded my

birthday,” she explained.

Brown also pointed out the advantages to being a leap year baby.

“I’ll still be considered young while people get older, and people

remember your birthday more than other days,” she said.Smith agreed. “I

get phone calls from people I haven’t heard from in years, just because

they remembered it was my birthday,” she said.

Smith, who was born in 1912 in Mockjord, Sweden, says she usually

celebrates her birthday on Feb. 28, but “it’s always nice to celebrate

your [real] birthday when you have the opportunity,” she said.

A dozen leap year babies were born at Hoag Hospital Tuesday, officials

said. The first, Kate Karlshoej Egan, was born to Susan Karlshoej and

James Egan at 12:19 a.m.

After giving birth, Karlshoej said: “Besides the joy of having a new

baby, we’re thrilled because we will not have to do a birthday party

every year.”