Leap year's special for a select few.

LYNN SPARLING is one of the few county residents who is a
"leap year baby" born on Feb. 29.

Lynn Sparling of Northport is celebrating her 17th birthday Friday.

But she’s a "very mature" teenager.

"I was Sweet Sixteen for quite a while," said Sparling, who is one of a handful of county residents whose birthdate only comes once every four years on Feb. 29. "The older you get, the better it is."

She will celebrate her 68th birthday this weekend with her husband, John. The couple built a house here and eventually became year-round residents of the county moving permanently to near Cathead Point 12 years ago.

"We used to go up to Charlevoix and didn’t check out Leelanau County until my sister-in-law bought a condo at The Homestead," Sparling said. "We visited and liked it so much better that we decided to build here."

Sparling feels privileged to have been born a "leap year" baby.

"It’s always been to my advantage," the retired homemaker said.

She typically celebrates her birthday on Feb. 28, because she was after all "born in February." But reserves the right to celebrate right on into March.

"I’ll take a quantum leap this year. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but that’s the way it is."

Sparling’s thoughts reflect those of two other county residents who also be celebrating their birthday on Friday, Feb. 29.

It will mark the 11th birthday of Elmwood Township resident Tom White, who was born in 1964.

"On off years, it’s a 2-day celebration," said White, an employee of the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments. "It’s more a state of mind than anything else."

This year is extra special for the 43-year-old White in that he will "catch up" with his daughter, Madelaine, whose a 6th grader at Norris Elementary.

"I’ll be the same age as one of my daughters, Madelaine. She turns 12 in June," White said, joking. "I’ll just catch her. I’ll never be ‘older’ that her. It’s great to be able to drive around when I’m only 11."